Whooping Cough booster and Pregnancy

[want2becrunchy]

Anyone have information on getting the whooping cough booster vaccine during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy to help build the babies immunity?  Yay or Nay and why?  Midwife suggested it but wanted to look into it before saying yes or no.

Any advice, opinions or suggestions?

Thank you!!

[alegna]

There is no research on whether vaxing the mom would confer any immunity at all to the baby.  Generally it is thought not to.  

[rnra]

There IS research showing that pertussis antibodies are transferred from mother to fetus.  The antibodies wane by 2 months of age, but they do provide protection during early infancy.  Early infancy is the time that pertussis infections are most serious.  Here are links to a few published studies showing this...

Prevalence of Pertussis Antibodies in Maternal Delivery, Cord, and Infant Serum 

http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/190/2/335.short

"These data support the rationale for maternal or neonatal immunization, with acellular pertussis vaccines, to prevent life-threatening pertussis in early infancy."

The case for maternal vaccination against pertussis
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309907701135

"In one study, protection of newborn babies was found. Additional support for the efficacy of maternal vaccination comes from studies showing that transfer of antibodies confers protection against pertussis."

Prevention of Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diptheria Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Infants 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmWR/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5704a1.htm

"The results of these surveys suggested that high concentration of transplacental pertussis antibodies might provide a degree of infant protection against pertussis in the first 6 months of life"

 

[ma2two]

Here are the package inserts for both brands of Tdap vaccine.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM142764.pdf

"Pregnancy Category C Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Adacel vaccine. It is also not known whether Adacel vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Adacel vaccine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed."

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/UCM152842.pdf

"Pregnancy Category C Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with BOOSTRIX. It is also not known whether BOOSTRIX can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. BOOSTRIX should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed."