Maternal Immunisation – Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Pregnant lady with a metaphorical whooping cough (pertussis) protective layer protecting her and her baby
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Why get the tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Booster Vaccination during pregnancy?

TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR BABY FROM PERTUSSIS
You can help to protect your unborn child against pertussis during the first weeks of life by having the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster vaccination while you are pregnant.1-3

Newborns and infants too young to be vaccinated are at risk for increased morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases such as pertussis. This is because they have insufficient antibodies against pertussis.4-6

Getting the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster vaccination during pregnancy may
help protect you and your baby against pertussis at the same time.1,2

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It is important that any close family members and carers who will have contact with your baby are also protected against whooping cough.7,8

Make sure that they receive the vaccine at least 2 weeks before they meet your baby.7,8

 

TO PREVENT PERTUSSIS DISEASE AND POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS, GET THE TETANUS, DIPHTHERIA AND PERTUSSIS BOOSTER VACCINATION. 1,7

How does Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis Booster Vaccination work during pregnancy and what are the benefits?

Vaccinating pregnant women with the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster vaccine helps to directly protect them and their babies against pertussis as the mothers’ antibodies are transferred to the baby through the placenta.1,6,9

 

 

At birth, this protection continues, and the antibodies developed during pregnancy help protect newborns from pertussis during their first weeks of life – before they receive their first vaccines.3,9
GETTING VACCINATED DURING PREGNANCY IS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO HELP PROTECT BOTH YOU AND YOUR BABY FROM PERTUSSIS DISEASE.1
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What are the risks if you don't get vaccinated during pregnancy?

  • Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even life threatening, for babies less than one year old.10
  • Spread easily by coughing or sneezing, it can cause violent coughing and is particularly severe during the first months of life when babies are too young to be vaccinated.1,6,9,10
  • Pertussis in newborns can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain damage and in the most severe cases death. 1,3,5,10,11
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The tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster vaccination also provides protection against tetanus and diphtheria.12 Take this opportunity to protect yourself against pertussis and two other diseases in only one injection!

DON’T LET YOURSELF OR YOUR BABY GO UNPROTECTED AGAINST PERTUSSIS. SPEAK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT GETTING THE TETANUS, DIPHTHERIA AND PERTUSSIS BOOSTER VACCINATION DURING PREGNANCY.12

When should you get vaccinated?

  • During your 2nd or 3rd trimester.1,2,9,12
  • During each pregnancy, even if you already got vaccinated in the past.2,12
  • During the same visit, you may also receive the influenza vaccine.12
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DON’T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN BOTH YOUR AND YOUR BABY’S IMMUNITY!

More Information
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  1. Marshall H, McMillan M, Andrews RM, Macartney K, Edwards K. Vaccines in pregnancy: The dual benefit for pregnant women and infants. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016;12(4):848-856.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccinating pregnant patients. https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/hcp/ pregnantpatients.html. Accessed March, 03 2020.
  3. Winter K, Nickell S, Powell M, Harriman K. Effectiveness of Prenatal Versus Postpartum Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccination in Preventing Infant Pertussis. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;64(1):3-8.
  4. Munoz FM, Bond NH, Maccato M, et al. Safety and immunogenicity of tetanus diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) immunization during pregnancy in mothers and infants: a randomized clinical
    trial. Jama. 2014;311(17):1760-1769.
  5. Straney L, Schibler A, Ganeshalingham A, et al. Burden and Outcomes of Severe Pertussis Infection in Critically Ill Infants. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2016;17(8):735-742.
  6. CDC. Prevention of Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria with Vaccines in the United States. MMWR. 2018;67(2):1–44.
  7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pregnancy and Whooping Cough. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/mom/ protection.html. Last update: January 10, 2017. Last Accessed March 2020.
  8. Quinn HE, Snelling TL, Habig A, Chiu C, Spokes PJ, McIntyre PB. Parental Tdap boosters and infant pertussis: a case-control study. Pediatrics 2014;134(4):713–720.
  9. Gall SA, Myers J, Pichichero M. Maternal immunization with tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine: effect on maternal and neonatal serum antibody levels. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011;204(4):334.e331-335.
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pertussis (Whooping Cough). www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html. Accessed January, 24, 2020.
  11. CDC. For Parents: Vaccines For Your Children. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/child/pertussis.html. Accessed February 28, 2020.
  12. Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine approved professional information, Nov 2020.

sanofi-aventis south africa (pty) ltd., Reg. no.: 1996/010381/07, Floor 5, Building I, Hertford Office Park, 90 Bekker Road, Midrand, 2196. Tel: +27 (0)11 256 3700.

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