Uptake of vaccination in pregnancy

Maternal immunisation is a public health strategy that aims to provide protection against certain infections to both mother and her foetus or newborn child. Vaccination of pregnant women induces vaccine-specific antibodies that lead to the subsequent transfer of these antibodies across the placenta or through breastfeeding to the offspring. At present, vaccinations in pregnancy are limited to pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and the seasonal Influenza vaccine. Recently, some countries have incorporated routine antenatal vaccinations in their national immunisation programmes. Future vaccines targeted at pregnant women such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Group B streptococcus (GBS) are under development. The recently approved Covid-19 vaccines have no safety data for use in pregnancy at present, but have been considered in the UK in extremely vulnerable pregnant women or pregnant frontline health and social care workers. In this article, we review the evidence supporting maternal immunisation and discuss the uptake of vaccines in pregnant women, challenges of recording the data on vaccine coverage, and consider reasons behind the present levels of uptake and strategies for future improvements. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

Maternal immunisation is a public health strategy aimed at providing protection for both mother and foetus or newborn child against certain infections. Current vaccinations during pregnancy are limited to pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and seasonal Influenza, while development of vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Group B streptococcus (GBS) targeted at pregnant women is ongoing. Covid-19 vaccines, recently approved, do not have safety data for use in pregnancy yet but are being considered in the UK for extremely vulnerable pregnant women or pregnant frontline health and social care workers.