Think pertussis! Maternal and on-time infant vaccinations are essential

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In print

VACCINES

Think pertussis! Maternal and on-time infant vaccinations are essential

12 April 2023

By Mary Nowlan and Nikki Turner

Wednesday 12 April 2023, 12:15 AM

Pertussis immunisation rates in pregnancy, Auckland, by ethnicity [Image: UC GeoHealth, geohealthlab.shinyapps.io/hapumama]

Aotearoa is likely to be on the verge of a pertussis outbreak with recently reported cases just the tip of the iceberg – are you and your patients ready?

Key points, The next pertussis epidemic is coming, and infants are most vulnerable to severe disease and death. Pregnancy vaccinations and on-time infant primar, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Women's Health

References

Amirthalingam G, Campbell H, Ribeiro S, et al. Sustained effectiveness of the maternal pertussis immunization program in England 3 years following introduction. Clin Infect Dis 2016;63(Suppl. 4):S236–43.
Bechini A, Tiscione E, Boccalini S, et al. Acellular pertussis vaccine use in risk groups (adolescents, pregnant women, newborns and health care workers): a review of evidence and recommendations. Vaccine 2012;30(35):5179–90.
Howe AS, Pointon L, Gauld N, et al. Pertussis and influenza immunisation coverage of pregnant women in New Zealand. Vaccine 2020;38(43):6766–76.
Melvin J, Scheller E, Miller J, et al. Bordetella pertussis pathogenesis: current and future challenges. Nat Rev Microbiol 2014;12:274–88.
Petousis-Harris H, Jiang Y, Yu L, et al. A retrospective cohort study of safety outcomes in New Zealand infants exposed to Tdap vaccine in utero. Vaccines (Basel) 2019;7(4):147.
Radke S, Petousis-Harris H, Watson D, et al. Age-specific effectiveness following each dose of acellular pertussis vaccine among infants and children in New Zealand. Vaccine 2017;35(1):177–83.
Sukumaran L, McCarthy NL, Kharbanda EO, et al. Association of Tdap vaccination with acute events and adverse birth outcomes among pregnancy women with prior tetanus-containing immunizations. JAMA 2015;314(15):1581–87.
Wendelboe AM, Njamkepo E, Bourillon A, et al. Transmission of Bordetella pertussis to young infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2007;26(4):293–99.
Wiley KE, Zuo Y, Macartney KK, McIntyre PB. Sources of pertussis infection in young infants: a review of key evidence informing targeting of the cocoon strategy. Vaccine 2013;31(4):618–25.

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