07 Apr 2016
Public Health England updates pertussis vaccine advice for pregnant women
Pertussis vaccine for pregnant women now recommended earlier
On 6 April 2016, a revised chapter on whooping cough immunisation, part of 'Immunisation against infectious disease' (the Green Book) was published. This includes the recommendation that pregnant women should now be offered a single dose of a pertussis containing vaccine (dTaP/IPV) between gestational weeks 16 and 32 rather than from week 28 [1, 2].
Women may still be immunised after week 32 of pregnancy, but this may not offer as high a level of passive protection to the baby [1].
Offering maternal immunisation earlier than 28 weeks should improve infant protection and provide more opportunity for pregnant women to be offered the pertussis vaccine during pregnancy [2].
