05 Jun Premature Infants May Have Some Infection Protection from Vaccinated Mothers
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr Paul T Heath MB BS, FRACP, FRCPCH
Reader / Honorary Consultant
Paediatric Infectious Diseases
St George’s, University of London and Vaccine Institute
London, United Kingdom
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Dr. Heath: Vaccinating pregnant women is an important and proven strategy for protecting young infants against tetanus, influenza and pertussis. Among the infants at highest risk for complications of these infections are infants born prematurely but it is generally believed that because antibody transfer from mother to baby is maximal in the 3rd trimester, babies born prematurely may miss out on the benefits of maternal vaccination.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Dr. Heath: This study shows that this may not be so because premature babies born to vaccinated mums had higher levels of antibody against pertussis than other premature babies whose mums were not vaccinated.
This finding also has relevance for the other vaccines given in pregnancy as well as for new vaccines in development, particularly the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Group B streptococcus (GBS) vaccines as these infections are also a particular problem for babies born prematurely”
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Pediatrics
June 2016 Published Online June 02, 2016
doi: 10.1542/peds.2015-3854
Pertussis Antibody Concentrations in Infants Born Prematurely to Mothers Vaccinated in Pregnancy
Alison Kent, Shamez N. Ladhani, Nick J. Andrews, Mary Matheson, Anna England, Elizabeth Miller, Paul T. Heath, on behalf of the PUNS study group
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on June 5, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD