Vaccines In Pregnancy
Whooping cough, also known as Pertussis, is an extremely contagious bacterial infection that can be fatal in infants.
In Singapore, children would be vaccinated against whooping cough from three months of age as part of the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule.
However, the baby is vulnerable to the infection prior to receiving his or her own vaccine. Unfortunately, the number of cases where young infants succumb to whooping cough around the world is increasing.
Currently, pregnant women are vaccinated in the third trimester of pregnancy with the aim of them creating antibodies which may be passed to the baby before delivery. These antibodies would confer the newborn with immunity against whooping cough in the early infancy period.
The optimal timing of Pertussis vaccination in the mother is between 27 weeks to 36 weeks of pregnancy.
