Vaccine won’t give you disease that is designed to prevent.
1.What is Tdap Vaccine?
.The Tdap vaccine is a combination vaccine, That offers triple protection against three bacterial infections-Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis with a single shot. . Tdap vaccine is a reduced antigen content vaccine compared to DTaP Vaccine.
2.Why is Tdap Vaccine recommended during pregnancy?
.Tdap vaccination during pregnancy , help in protecting the newborn/young infants from neonatal pertussis. .Tdap vaccine when administered during pregnancy result in transfer of antibodies from mother to foetus. These antibodies offer protection during first few months of life when newborns are most vulnerable to pertussis disease and complications. .Newborns are too young to protect by currently available vaccination schedules.
3. How is the Tdap vaccine different from TT/Td vaccine currently given during pregnancy?
TT(Tetanus Toxoid)/ Td(Tetanus and Diphtheria) vaccines protect both mother and newborn against tetanus and diphtheria. Tdap vaccine additionally protects against pertussis; especially in newborns through transplacental transfer of antibodies from mother to foetus. Since 2011, The advisory committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) & American college of Obstetrician and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended thar pregnant women should receive single dose of T dap vaccine during pregnancy.
4. What is pertussis?
.Pertussis is highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is more commonly known as ‘Whooping Cough’. .Pertussis is transmitted through airborne droplets or direct contact with nasopharyngeal discharges from an infected person. .It affects people of all ages but in newborns/young infants it can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia ,Seizures and may lead to hospitalization or even death.
5. Why are newborns at higher risk of neonatal pertussis?
.Newborn Infants in India start their primary DPT Vaccination series after 6 weeks of their age. This leaves the newborn vulnerable to contract serious pertussis infection. .Mother have been identified as the source of infection in 37% of neonatal pertussis cases.
6. When is the optimal time during pregnancy to recommend Tdap vaccination?
.Optimal time for Tdap vaccination is during 27-36 weeks of gestation as higher antibodies levels are likely to be achieved in the foetus.
7. Can the Tdap vaccine be recommended to the pregnant women who have received TT vaccination in the same pregnancy?
.T dap vaccination can be considered instead of the 2nd dose of tetanus toxoid.
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