Abstract
BackgroundInfluenza and pertussis vaccines have been recommended in Australia for women during each pregnancy since 2010 and 2015, respectively. Estimating vaccination coverage and identifying factors affecting uptake are important for improving antenatal immunisation services.MethodsA random sample of 800 Western Australian women ≥18 years of age who gave birth between 4th April and 4th October 2015 were selected. Of the 454 (57%) who were contactable by telephone, 424 (93%) completed a survey. Data were weighted by maternal age and area of residence to ensure representativeness. The proportion immunised against influenza and pertussis was the main outcome measure; multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors significantly associated with antenatal vaccination. Results from the 2015 study were compared to similar surveys conducted in 2012–2014.ResultsIn 2015, 71% (95% CI 66–75) of women received pertussis-containing vaccine and 61% (95% CI 56–66) received influenza vaccine during pregnancy; antenatal influenza vaccine coverage was 18% higher than in 2014 (43%; 95% CI: 34–46). Pertussis and influenza vaccine were co-administered for 68% of the women who received both vaccines. The majority of influenza vaccinations in 2015 were administered during the third trimester of pregnancy, instead of the second trimester, as was observed in prior years. Women whose care provider recommended both antenatal vaccinations had significantly higher odds of being vaccinated against both influenza and pertussis (OR 33.3, 95% CI: 15.15–73.38). Of unvaccinated mothers, 53.6% (95% CI: 45.9–61.3) and 78.3% (95% CI: 70.4–85.3) reported that they would have been vaccinated against influenza and pertussis, respectively, if their antenatal care provider had recommended it.ConclusionsPertussis vaccination coverage was high in the first year of an antenatal immunisation program in Western Australia. Despite a substantial increase in influenza vaccination uptake between 2014 and 2015, coverage remained below that for pertussis. Our data suggest influenza and pertussis vaccination rates of 83% and 94%, respectively, are achievable if providers were to recommend them to all pregnant women.
Highlights
Influenza and pertussis vaccines have been recommended in Australia for women during each pregnancy since 2010 and 2015, respectively
An initial sample size of 800 women was calculated after taking into consideration the proportion of women whom could be contacted by telephone in previous surveys of antenatal influenza vaccination uptake (~ 60%) and the participation rate among those contacted (> = 90%)
53.6% and 78.3% reported that they would have been vaccinated against influenza and pertussis, respectively, during their pregnancy if a health care provider had recommended it
Summary
Influenza and pertussis vaccines have been recommended in Australia for women during each pregnancy since 2010 and 2015, respectively. Antenatal influenza vaccination can protect pregnant women from serious complications of influenza and prevent severe, potentially fatal influenza and pertussis infections in young infants through maternal antibody transfer [1]. Vaccinating pregnant women for pertussis during the third trimester of pregnancy ensures maximum transfer of maternal antibodies from the vaccine to the child through the placental membrane, thereby protecting young infants from the life-threatening complications of pertussis [2, 3]. In Australia, antenatal influenza vaccination has been recommended to pregnant women at any trimester during their pregnancy during the flu season and funded through the national immunisation program since 2010 [4]. A systematic review has identified inadequate knowledge of influenza risk and concerns about the safety of the antenatal influenza as barriers to uptake [11]
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