On 27 September 2012, a CMO letter announced the introduction of a temporary programme to vaccinate pregnant women against pertussis to protect their infants.
The HPA has compiled a list of questions and answers and training resources in response to queries from healthcare professionals relating to the temporary vaccination programme for pregnant women. The following information has been taken from the Public Health England website.
Background
There has been a considerable increase in pertussis activity in the UK starting in mid-2011. The current national outbreak is the largest seen in the UK for over two decades in England and Wales. The greatest numbers of cases are in adolescents and young adults but the highest rates are in infants less than three months of age. The latter are at highest risk of complications and death and are too young to be protected through routine vaccination.
Programme
This temporary programme will offer all pregnant women vaccination against pertussis. The recommended time of vaccination is between 28 and 38 weeks of pregnancy, although the vaccine will also be offered up to delivery and to new mothers who have never received pertussis vaccination. The pertussis vaccine being offered is a combined vaccine that also protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio (Repevax©).
The purpose of this programme is to boost antibodies in vaccinated women in late pregnancy so that pertussis antibodies are passed from the mother to her baby. This is thought to be the most effective way to provide protection to newborn infants and there is no evidence of risk to either the mother or the baby.
Advice for pregnant women about this programme should be available wherever antenatal care is provided - through GPs and midwives in various community settings and in hospitals.
Vaccination against influenza is also recommended for all pregnant women and pertussis vaccination can be given at the same time. However, vaccination against influenza should not be delayed to be given alongside the pertussis vaccination. Where influenza vaccination has been given before 28 weeks of pregnancy, pertussis vaccine should be given separately after 28 weeks.
