Pertussis (whooping cough) continues to be a problem in infants, children, and adults. It is often a life-threatening disease in infants. Over the past few years, there has been a progressive increase in the recommendations for adolescent and adult booster vaccinations to prevent spread of the disease to infants. In 2005, a dose was recommended for all adults who had not had one, especially postpartum women and those caring for a newborn infant. In 2011, the recommendation for pregnant women was changed to a dose during pregnancy, after 20 weeks gestation. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorsed this recommendation, though in questioning my patients it seems that most of the local OB/GYN doctors are not informing their patients of this recommendation.
Now the recommendation has changed again, and the vaccine is now recommended at each and every pregnancy, during the third trimester, even if the woman has had the booster vaccine before. It is hoped that every baby will receive a higher dose of antibodies from the mother through the placenta because of the antibody boost the vaccine will provide. The recommendation was actually made in October, 2012, but became official this month.
This should become part of regular pregnancy care. I hope our local OB/GYN doctors will be made aware of the recommendation, and at least inform their patients about it. We offer the vaccine in our office to pregnant and postpartum women, as well as fathers and other caregivers who also need to be informed and encouraged to get the vaccine.