Abstract
Immunizing pregnant women to protect the mother, fetus and infant from infection has increasingly been used over the last decade. Protection against infectious diseases in neonates is mainly provided by maternal antibodies transferred from mother to infant during pregnancy through transplacental transport or after delivery via breastfeeding. Both the transplacental- and breast milk–derived maternal antibodies function as the primary source of protection against infectious diseases in neonates during the first vulnerable weeks of life. During recent infectious disease outbreaks (influenza, pertussis, Zika…) and for other infectious diseases (CMV, GBS…), pregnant women are increasingly identified as an important target for vaccination. For some of these diseases, vaccines are already on the market, and recommended during pregnancy. For others, vaccines are currently under development; furthermore, some are even specifically designed to be administered during pregnancy.
Conclusion: This review article provides an overview on the rationale and main mechanism of the maternal vaccination strategy and gives a summary about the current and possible future recommendations for maternal vaccination.
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What is Known:
• Maternal vaccination has a far-reaching potential in the protection of both women and offspring.
• Currently, tetanus, pertussis and influenza vaccination during pregnancy is recommended in some countries. Several new vaccines specifically designed for use in pregnancy are currently under development.
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What is New:
• Review providing a timely overview of the rationale and main mechanisms of the maternal vaccination strategy
• Up-to-date summary of the current and possible future recommendations for maternal vaccination
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