Vaccination during pregnancy is crucial for protecting both the mother and the unborn child. Immunisations, such as influenza (vaccine against influenza) and Tdap (vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), help prevent diseases that can lead to complications like preterm birth and severe neonatal infections.
The placenta allows maternal antibodies to pass to the foetus, offering newborns passive immunity. This is particularly important in the first few months of life when the infant's immune system is still developing.
Furthermore, vaccination reduces the risk of maternal infection. Indeed, since to enable both tolerances towards the developing foetus and defence against pathogens, the maternal immune system changes gestation. These modifications can improve certain diseases (such as autoimmune diseases) but can also negatively decrease the mother’s immune system's ability to fight against pathogens.
Even though traditionally there has been an unwillingness to involve pregnant women in clinical trials due to ethical issues and the risk of exposing unborn babies to external factors, research and empirical data support the safety and efficacy of vaccines during pregnancy.
It is important though to underline the fact that inactivated vaccines and certain toxoid vaccines, may be recommended based on individual circumstances, however, live attenuated vaccines (such as MMR, varicella, zoster, oral polio vaccine, and yellow fever) are not recommended during pregnancy since these vaccines contain a weakened form of the live virus, which can theoretically pose a risk to the developing foetus throughout the whole pregnancy.
Finally, healthcare providers are experienced and the most informed on the appropriate vaccination types, vaccination schedules and guideline recommendations for everyone.
8. august 2024
Vaccination During Pregnancy
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Pregnant Women and Vaccines.
- Munoz, F. M., et al. (2014). Safety and immunogenicity of Tdap vaccine in pregnant women: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 311(17), 1760-1769.
- Giles, M. L., et al. (2019). Antenatal influenza and pertussis vaccination: a cross-sectional study to assess knowledge and attitudes among pregnant women. BMJ Open, 9(12), e033530.
- Wang, R. et al. (2021). The effect of influenza virus infection on pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Apr: 105:567-578.
- Oseghale, O. et al. (2022). Influenza virus Infection during pregnancy as a trigger of acute and chronic complications. Viruses 2022 Dec; 14(12): 2729.
- Rasmussen, S. et al. (2021). Effects of influenza on pregnant women and infants. Am J Obstet. Gynecol. 2012 Sep;207(3 Suppl): S3-8.
- Minchin, J. et al. (2023) Exclusion of pregnant people from emergency vaccine clinical trials: A systematic review of clinical trial protocols and reporting from 2009 to 2019.
- Voulgaris E, et al. Cancer and pregnancy: a comprehensive review. Surg Oncol. 2011.
- Schwab R, et al. Cancer and Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Review.Cancers (Basel). 2021.
- Matthews ML, et al. Cancer, fertility preservation, and future pregnancy: a comprehensive review. Obstet gynecol Int. 2012.