Why Should We Advocate Maternal Immunization?

Maternal vaccination provides a method for protecting the pregnant woman, fetus and neonate during a period when there is increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. A dynamic state of immune tolerance during pregnancy and the need to develop adaptive memory to a new foreign antigen-rich environment lead to windows of vulnerability to infection for the mother and neonate, respectively. Passive transfer of humoral immunity through the placenta and breast milk from the mother can bridge the gap in immunity for the neonate. Studies on boosting this natural process of antibody transfer have led to the recommendation for administering inactivated influenza, diphtheria, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccines during pregnancy. Several new maternal vaccine candidates are on the horizon.