Influenza and pertussis vaccine uptake during pregnancy among Australian women in south‐east Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Objectives: Population-specific studies of vaccine uptake in pregnancy are necessary to monitor progress and ensure enablers to vaccination are locally relevant. We aimed to determine the uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccine during pregnancy in women in southeast Queensland and the reasons why women were choosing not to vaccinate. Methods:A secondary analysis of data collected in a prospective cohort study. Data were collected at enrolment during pregnancy and within six weeks of giving birth. The primary outcome was the proportion of women vaccinated during pregnancy.Results: Among 310 pregnant women, 45.8% and 69.7% were vaccinated against influenza and pertussis, respectively; 123 (39.7%) had received both vaccines. The common predictor of vaccine uptake for influenza, pertussis or both was having had any vaccine in the 12 months prior to pregnancy. Not considering the vaccines necessary and perceptions of the risk of infection were common reasons for not intending to vaccinate. Conclusions:Antenatal vaccine uptake remains suboptimal in women in south-east Queensland. Barriers to vaccination during pregnancy are complex and vary depending on context and population.Implications for public health: More efforts are needed to promote antenatal uptake, particularly for influenza vaccine and having both the influenza and pertussis vaccines during pregnancy.

Maternal immunization in women living with HIV

“…Although no study has specifically been performed among pregnant WLWH, evidence gathered mostly during the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, indicates that high reluctance is observed among pregnant women regarding vaccination. Different studies, mostly in HIC, have identified different factors associated with vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women: not only concerns about vaccine safety, trust in health authorities and healthcare providers (HCPs) [78] but also risk perception of the disease [79]. For example, in France, only 18 and 34% of pregnant women considered that vaccines are respectively well tolerated and effective during pregnancy [80].…”

Efficacy and safety of respiratory syncytial virus vaccination during pregnancy to prevent lower respiratory tract illness in newborns and infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Vaccination of the mother results in an elevation of her antibody levels, and these antibodies are transferred to the fetus through the placenta, providing passive immunity for the first few months of the infant's life (1,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). The World Health Organization has approved the vaccination of pregnant women to safeguard their babies from tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 (14)(15)(16)(17). Based on this, we propose that maternal vaccination with RSV-associated vaccines could also be effective in protecting infants (18-21).…”

A study of acceptance and hesitation factors towards tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) and influenza vaccines during pregnancy

“…However, despite the evidence of reducing infant morbidity and mortality, vaccination rates in Brazil for influenza and pertussis during pregnancy fall very short of Brazilian and other countries’ recommendations [3] , [5] , [8] , [26] , [27] , [28] . It is essential to analyze the factors associated with vaccination and vaccine hesitancy in this population to propose more effective interventions [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] .…”