perinatology.com

Should a pregnant NICU nurse receive the Tdap (pertussis) vaccine?

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends Tdap vaccination for:

• Anyone 7 years and older who is not fully immunized
• Women of childbearing age — including before, during, or after pregnancy
• People who have close contact with pregnant women or infants

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) states that Tdap may be given during pregnancy when a woman is at increased risk for pertussis exposure — such as health-care personnel, including NICU nurses, or women living or working where a pertussis outbreak is occurring. Administration in the second or third trimester is preferred.

Pregnant patients should be informed of:

• the limited pregnancy-specific safety data for Tdap
• the uncertain degree of infant protection via maternal antibodies
• the theoretical possibility that maternal antibodies could modify infant responses to DTaP or conjugate vaccines containing diphtheria or tetanus toxoid

Vaccination of pregnant women with Tdap should be reported to the corresponding manufacturer’s pregnancy registry:

• ADACEL®: Sanofi Pasteur — 1-800-822-2463
• BOOSTRIX®: GlaxoSmithKline — 1-888-825-5249

SEE ALSO: Vaccines