Maternal immunization: Where are we now and how to move forward?

Maternal immunization: Where are we now and how to move forward? Ann Med. 2018 Jan 08;:1-36 Authors: Vojtek I, Dieussaert I, Doherty TM, Franck V, Hanssens L, Miller J, Bekkat-Berkani R, Kandeil W, Prado-Cohrs D, Vyse A Abstract Pregnancy and the post-partum period are associated with elevated risks to both mother and infant from infectious disease. Vaccination of pregnant women, also called maternal immunization, has the potential to protect pregnant women, fetuses, and infants from several vaccine-preventable diseases. Maternal immunoglobulin G antibodies are actively transferred through the placenta to provide passive immunity to newborns during the first months of life, until the time for infant vaccinations or until the period of greatest susceptibility has passed. Currently, inactivated influenza, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines are recommended during pregnancy in many countries, but other vaccines may also be administered to pregnant women when risk factors are present. Several new vaccines with a specific indication for use during pregnancy are under development (e.g., respiratory syncytial virus and group B streptococcus vaccines). Years of experience suggest that maternal immunization against influenza, tetanus, or pertussis has an acceptable safety profile, is well tolerated, effective, and confers significant benefits to pregnant women and their infants. This review describes the principles of maternal immunization and pr...
Source: Annals of Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Tags: Ann Med Source Type: research