Abstract
BackgroundMaternal immunization is an effective strategy to protect pregnant women and their infants from vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite the recommendation of maternal influenza and more recently pertussis immunization in Australia, uptake of these vaccines has been suboptimal. A midwife delivered immunization program for pregnant women at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in South Australia commenced in April 2015. Monitoring the uptake of the current funded vaccine programs for pregnant women is limited. The study aimed to estimate maternal vaccine uptake and assess factors associated with influenza and pertussis vaccine uptake among pregnant women.MethodsThis prospective study was undertaken between November 2014 and July 2016 at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Following consent, demographic details and vaccination history for South Australian pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic were collected. A standardised self-reported survey was completed during pregnancy with a follow up telephone interview at 8–10 weeks post-delivery.Results205 women consented and completed the self-reported survey. Of the 180 pregnant women who completed the study, 76% and 81% received maternal influenza and pertussis vaccines respectively. The adjusted odds of women receiving maternal vaccines during pregnancy were significantly higher for women delivering after the implementation of the midwife delivered program compared with women who delivered babies prior to the program for both pertussis vaccination (AOR 21.17, 95% CI 6.14–72.95; p<0.001) and influenza vaccination (AOR 5.95, 95% CI 2.13–16.61, p<0.001). Women receiving a recommendation from a health care provider and first time mothers were significantly more likely to receive influenza vaccination during pregnancy.ConclusionsHigh uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccines during pregnancy can be attained with health care provider recommendation and inclusion of maternal immunization as part of standard antenatal care. A midwife delivered maternal immunization program is a promising approach to improve maternal vaccine uptake by pregnant women.
Highlights
Pregnant women are at increased risk of morbidity and death from influenza infection during seasonal and pandemic influenza outbreaks [1,2,3]
The adjusted odds of women receiving maternal vaccines during pregnancy were significantly higher for women delivering after the implementation of the midwife delivered program compared with women who delivered babies prior to the program for both pertussis vaccination (AOR 21.17, 95% CI 6.14–72.95; p
High uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccines during pregnancy can be attained with health care provider recommendation and inclusion of maternal immunization as part of standard antenatal care
Summary
Pregnant women are at increased risk of morbidity and death from influenza infection during seasonal and pandemic influenza outbreaks [1,2,3]. Influenza vaccination during pregnancy can prevent up to 91% of influenza related hospital admissions in infants under 6 months of age [13] and has been shown to reduce influenza infections in pregnant women [14]. The safety of maternal influenza and pertussis immunization is well established, with no reports of serious adverse complications to the unborn infant and pregnant women [15, 16]. A study evaluating the safety of co-administering pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap) and influenza vaccines in pregnant women has not found an increased risk of adverse events [18]. Maternal immunization is an effective strategy to protect pregnant women and their infants from vaccine-preventable diseases. The study aimed to estimate maternal vaccine uptake and assess factors associated with influenza and pertussis vaccine uptake among pregnant women
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
