Why Maternal Vaccines Are Important

The Importance of Maternal Vaccines

Pregnant people or their babies are at increased risk for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and pertussis complications. Immunization rates for these vaccines are low, leaving many pregnant people or their infants unprotected against these serious vaccine-preventable diseases.

Studies confirm that your recommendation and offer of vaccines are essential. One study showed that patients who were offered influenza vaccination during an office visit were seven times more likely to be vaccinated for influenza than patients who reported their provider did not recommend or offer vaccination. Patients who received a recommendation alone were twice as likely to be vaccinated as those that received no recommendation.¹

Assuring your patients are protected by recommended vaccines is key. Each vaccine recommended for pregnant people is important for the protection of the patient and/or their baby.

Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap)

Pertussis is on the rise and outbreaks are happening across the United States. On average, about 1,000 infants are hospitalized and typically between five and 15 infants die each year in the United States. Most of these deaths are among infants who are too young to be protected by the childhood pertussis vaccine series that starts when infants are 2 months old. These first few months of life are when infants are at the greatest risk of contracting pertussis and having severe, potentially life-threatening complications from the infection. Fewer babies will be hospitalized for and die from pertussis when Tdap is given during pregnancy rather than during the postpartum period. When Tdap is given during pregnancy, antibodies are passed from the pregnant parent to the developing baby providing protection. Postpartum Tdap administration does not provide protection to the infant, who is most vulnerable to the disease’s serious complications.

Influenza (inactivated)

Influenza is more likely to cause illness that results in hospitalization in pregnant people than in people of reproductive age who are not pregnant. Influenza also may be harmful for the developing baby. A common influenza sign can be fever, which has been associated in some studies with neural tube defects and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby. Getting vaccinated while pregnant also can help protect a baby from influenza after birth (because antibodies are passed from the pregnant parent to the developing baby during pregnancy). People who get the influenza vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding also develop antibodies against influenza that they can share with their infants through their breast milk.

COVID-19

People who are pregnant are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to those who are not pregnant. They are more likely to need hospitalization, intensive care, or the use of a ventilator or special equipment to breathe if they do get sick from COVID-19. Severe COVID-19 illness can lead to death.

There is also an increased risk of complications that can affect a patient’s pregnancy and baby including, preterm birth or stillbirth. COVID-19 vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death for both your patient and their baby.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is recognized as one of the most common causes of childhood illness and is the most common cause of hospitalization in infants. It causes annual outbreaks of respiratory illnesses in all age groups. In most regions of the United States, RSV season starts in the fall and peaks in the winter, but the timing and severity of RSV season in a given community can vary from year to year. Generally, there are two options to protect infants from RSV: either maternal RSV vaccination or infant immunization with nirsevimab (RSV monoclonal antibody). RSV vaccination is recommended for pregnant people at 32 through 36 weeks gestation, and it is administered seasonally from September through January in most of the continental United States*. Nirsevimab is recommended for all infants under 8 months of age who are born shortly before or during their first RSV season, and it is administered seasonally from October through March in most of the continental United States*.

In a 2024 survey among pediatric and obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN) providers, 77% of pediatricians had offered nirsevimab to pregnant patients. 63% of OB/GYNs in the survey had offered respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine to pregnant patients. Providers were confident in the safety and effectiveness of nirsevimab and maternal RSV vaccine.