Safety and Immunogenicity of Tetanus Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Immunization During Pregnancy in Mothers and Infants

Abstract

Pertussis is a highly contagious and potentially fatal vaccine-preventable disease that has reemerged in the United States despite high childhood immunization rates. Infants younger than 6 months are at greatest risk of disease, hospitalization, and death and account for more than 90% of all pertussis-associated deaths in the United States.¹ Infants too young to receive the primary diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) immunization series as recommended at 2, 4, and 6 months of age depend on passive maternal antibodies for protection against pertussis. However, pregnant women have very low concentrations of pertussis antibodies to transfer to their newborn at the time of delivery.^2-4