To Prevent Pertussis in Babies, Vaccinate Their Mothers During Late Pregnancy

In response to pertussis outbreaks causing neonatal deaths, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended in 2012 that women receive tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during each pregnancy (NEJM JW Womens Health Apr 11 2013). To evaluate the safety of this approach, investigators vaccinated 33 pregnant women at 30 to 32 weeks' gestation, 15 postpartum women before hospital discharge, and 32 nonpregnant women.

The vaccine was tolerated comparably during pregnancy, postpartum, and in nonpregnant women. Compared with infants of women who received Tdap postpartum, those born to women immunized during pregnancy had higher concentrations of pertussis antibodies at birth and 2 months, when infa…