Women should receive a dose of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine with each pregnancy, according to guidelines published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
This recommendation applies regardless of whether the mother-to-be is an adolescent or adult.
Specifically, the recommendation is that pregnant women receive booster doses of the tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (TDaP) vaccine during each pregnancy, ideally between the 27th and 36th weeks of their pregnancy.
“For tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, recommendations have been expanded to include routine vaccination of adults aged 65 years or older and for pregnant women to receive Tdap vaccine with each pregnancy. The ideal timing of Tdap vaccination during pregnancy is during 27 to 36 weeks’ gestation. This recommendation was made to increase the likelihood of optimal protection for the pregnant woman and her infant during the first few months of the infant’s life when the child is too young for vaccination but at highest risk for severe illness and death from pertussis.”
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
According to the CDC, there are roughly 10,000-25,000 pertussis cases reported each year and about 10-20 deaths.
