Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist Prof. Dr. Aydan Biri gave information about the vaccines that should be routinely done during pregnancy. prof. Dr. Emphasizing that pregnancy is an important and different period in my life, one of them said, “Every step taken for mother's health during this period affects the health of the baby as well. The mother's vaccination during pregnancy protects the newborn against many infections until they have their own vaccinations.” she said.
Stating that there are two main purposes of vaccination during pregnancy, Prof. Dr. One said, “The first is to ensure that the mother is protected against infectious diseases for which she is at high risk. During pregnancy, there are changes in the immune system of mothers and it becomes sensitive. Influenza infection, which affects the mother less in the normal period, may lead to a serious illness during pregnancy. In addition, since the diseases experienced during this period will have a negative impact on the health of the baby, vaccination becomes even more important.” used his statements.
“Immunity also passes to the baby”
prof. Dr. One of them mentioned that vaccines given during pregnancy provide a vaccine-specific immune response in mothers, and noted:
“The antibodies pass to the fetus through the placenta and breast milk, directly protecting the infant from targeted pathogens in the first months of life. Influenza, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are among the vaccines that should be routinely administered in every pregnancy in order to protect both the mother and the baby. During the pandemic period we live in, the Covid-19 vaccine was among the vaccines recommended to be administered during pregnancy.
Drawing attention to the triple mixed adult type tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, which is routinely applied in more than 50 countries around the world, Prof. Dr. One said, “Although it is not routinely administered in our country yet, the 3nd dose of the Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, which is currently in routine practice, can be applied instead of the recommendations of the obstetricians and the request of conscious mothers. The Tdap vaccine is also an effective and safe strategy for preventing pertussis in infants who are too young to be vaccinated. Numerous studies worldwide demonstrate the efficacy and safety of Tdap pregnancy vaccination. The Tdap pregnancy vaccine protects babies against pertussis, especially in the first 2-3 months of life.” he said.
“Immunity to pertussis infection in the first 3 months”
prof. Dr. One of them stated that the vaccine efficacy of the Maternal Tdap vaccine in preventing pertussis was evaluated in a study involving approximately 150 thousand newborns, and continued as follows:
“The vaccine efficacy of Tdap pregnancy vaccination in the study was 2% in the first 91,4 months of life and 69,0% during the first year of life. prof. Dr. Pointing out that the majority of hospitalizations and deaths attributable to pertussis infection occur in babies 3 months and younger, Aydan Biri said, “In other words, immunity is important in the first 3 months. Babies start their vaccination series when they are 2 months old, and this first series is only completed at 6 months. This means an important vulnerability window for newborns in terms of severe pertussis infection, and this gap can be closed by providing maternal antibody transmission with Tdap vaccination during pregnancy. In other words, pertussis vaccination during pregnancy has the potential to reduce early childhood morbidity and even death rates.”
“There is a greater risk of infection in the earthquake zone”
Stating that pregnant women living in the earthquake area are among the groups at risk of contracting infectious diseases during this period, Prof. Dr. One said, “After disasters, providing pregnant women with access to healthy drinking and potable water and appropriate food, providing vitamin and mineral supplements such as folic acid, iron, vitamin D, calcium, and vaccinations are extremely important to strengthen the immune system and prevent diseases. In the absence of routinely administered Td vaccines in our country, Tdap vaccine can be administered to pregnant women instead of Td vaccine in order to additionally protect the newborn from pertussis, which is highly contagious.” he said.