What vaccination is recommended for pregnant women to protect the newborn?

The recommendation for the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy is based on its critical role in protecting newborns from pertussis (whooping cough). Pregnant women are advised to receive the Tdap vaccine regardless of their vaccination history, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. This timing helps to ensure that the mother develops antibodies that can be passed to the baby in utero, providing the newborn with passive immunity against pertussis in the first few months of life when they are most vulnerable.

Maternal immunization with Tdap has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of whooping cough in infants, which can lead to severe complications or even death. By vaccinating during pregnancy, the risk of pertussis in the neonatal period is greatly minimized.

While other vaccinations may also be important, such as the flu vaccine to protect both the mother and the child from influenza or the Hepatitis B vaccine for those at risk, the Tdap vaccine specifically targets a severe disease in newborns and is notably emphasized for pregnant women. The MMR vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy due to potential risks to the fetus and is generally recommended in the preconception phase. This makes the Tdap vaccine the most directly relevant choice for the protection of newborn