Incidence of pertussis decreased among infants younger than 2 months after maternal Tdap vaccination implementation<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Introduction of a tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination during pregnancy can protect the youngest infants from pertussis, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in JAMA Pediatrics<\/em>.<\/p>\n Tami H. Skoff, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues calculated and compared pertussis incidence rates in the pre-maternal Tdap vaccination period (2000 to 2010) and the post-maternal Tdap vaccination period (2012 to 2019) for infants younger than 2 months (target group of maternal vaccination) and infants age 6 to less than 12 months (comparison group).<\/p>\n The researchers found that in the pre-maternal Tdap vaccination period, annual pertussis incidence did not change among infants aged younger than 2 months and increased slightly among older infants, with no change in the difference in incidence seen between the two age groups. In the post-maternal Tdap vaccination period, there was a decrease in incidence observed among infants younger than 2 months (slope, \u00e2\u0088\u009214.53 per 100,000 infants per year), while no change was seen for older infants (slope, 1.42 per 100,000 infants per year). During the post-maternal Tdap vaccination period, the incidence rate difference between the two age groups decreased significantly (slope, \u00e2\u0088\u009214.43 per 100,000 infants per year). Between the pre- and post-maternal Tdap vaccination periods, pertussis incidence rate differences were significantly different (slope difference, \u00e2\u0088\u009214.51 per 100,000 infants per year).<\/p>\n “Our data suggest that maternal Tdap vaccination is associated with a reduction in disease burden among the youngest and most vulnerable age group (<2 months),\" the authors write.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n