Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Is Tdap Vaccine During Pregnancy Safe?
Vaccine; ePub 2018 Jul 18; Griffin, et al
Rates of tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) administration during pregnancy are relatively low, but are not associated with unexpected safety risks, a recent study found. The national retrospective observational study population consisted of pregnancy women eligible to receive funded Tdap vaccination from 28 to 38 weeks gestation in 2013. Primary outcomes were based on prioritized adverse events for the assessment of vaccine safety in pregnant women. Researchers found:
- In the cohort of 68,550 eligible women, 8,178 (11.9%) were vaccinated and 60,372 (88.1%) were unvaccinated.
- The use of Tdap in pregnancy was not associated with an increase in the rate of primary outcomes, including preterm labor, preeclampsia, preeclampsia with severe features, gestational hypertension, fetal growth restriction, or postpartum hemorrhage.
- Tdap also did not increase secondary outcomes, including gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal distress, or antenatal bleeding.
- Tdap vaccine had a protective effect on preeclampsia with severe features, preterm labor, preterm delivery, and antenatal bleeding.
Griffin JB, Yu L, Watson D, et al. Pertussis Immunisation in Pregnancy Safety (PIPS) Study: A retrospective cohort study of safety outcomes in pregnant women vaccinated with Tdap vaccine. [Published online ahead of print July 18, 2018]. Vaccine. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.07.011.
This Week's Must Reads
Must Reads in Vaccines
Vaccination for Prevention of Herpes Zoster, Ann Intern Med; ePub 2019 Feb 19; Prosser, et al
ACIP Updates Adult Immunization Schedule, Ann Intern Med; 2019 Feb 5; Kim, Hunter, et al
Influenza Vaccination Safety During Hospitalization, Mayo Clin Proc; ePub 2019 Jan 8; Tartof, et al
Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Is Safe & Effective, JAMA Pediatr; 2018 Nov; Wood, Nolan, et al
Influenza and Pertussis Vaccination in Pregnancy, Vaccine; ePub 2018 Nov 3; Wilcox, Bottrell, et al
There have been recommendations in place to immunize pregnant women with Tdap to protect their newborn infants against pertussis. This study out of New Zealand looked at this question from the perspective of the health of the pregnancy. With over 8,000 women receiving the vaccine during pregnancy, the study showed no increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes in these women. Hopefully, this study can reassure our pregnant patients that receiving the vaccine will not have a negative impact on their pregnancy but instead will have a positive impact on their newborn baby. —John Russell, MD