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Vaccination During Pregnancy: Myths And Facts Every Expecting Parent Should Know
Vaccination During Pregnancy: Myths And Facts Every Expecting Parent Should Know
In most Indian families, pregnancy is not just a personal journey for the expecting couple but a collective experience shared by the entire household. Once the news is announced, advice, suggestions, and well-meaning instructions begin to pour in from family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers. While some of this guidance may be useful, much of it can be confusing and at times, misleading.
Vaccination during pregnancy is one such topic often surrounded by myths and conflicting opinions. Yet, vaccinations play a crucial role in safeguarding both mother and baby. To help clarify, Dr Pramod Jog, Senior Consultant Pediatrician, Jog Children's Clinic, Aundh, Pune, addresses common misconceptions with facts backed by science.
Myth: Vaccination during pregnancy is unnecessary because natural immunity is enough to protect mother and baby
Fact: During pregnancy, a woman's immune system undergoes changes to support the baby. These changes can make her more vulnerable to infections such as influenza, tetanus, and diphtheria, which may lead to serious complications like premature birth, low birth weight, or stillbirth. Vaccinations against these diseases are therefore essential.
At the same time, newborns have immature immune systems and cannot be vaccinated against certain diseases such as whooping cough in the first few weeks of life, when they are most vulnerable. The body's natural mechanism helps bridge this risk: during the second and especially third trimester, mothers pass protective antibodies to their babies through the placenta. These antibodies continue to protect the infant after birth and are also transferred through breast milk, adding another layer of defense.
However, for this protection to be meaningful, the mother must have adequate antibody levels. Immunity from past vaccination or infection can wane over time, particularly for diseases like whooping cough. Receiving vaccines during pregnancy helps boost antibody levels, allowing stronger protection to be passed to the baby before birth.
An Indian study found that 72% of babies born to vaccinated mothers had protective antibody levels at birth, compared to just 21% of babies whose mothers were not vaccinated highlighting the critical role of maternal vaccination.
Myth: Vaccination against whooping cough is not required because it is not part of the UIP
Fact: Although the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) does not currently include whooping cough vaccination for pregnant women, leading medical organizations in India and worldwide strongly recommend it.
In India, newborns receive their first dose of the DTaP vaccine only at six weeks of age. Until then, they remain unprotected, creating what doctors call an “immunity gap." During this period, babies are at a higher risk of contracting whooping cough from family members or visitors who may unknowingly carry the bacteria.
Whooping cough may begin like a common cold but can escalate quickly. It causes severe coughing fits, breathing difficulties, and, in young infants, can even be life-threatening. In babies under two months, it may present as apnea, a sudden pause in breathing which makes early protection vital. Many infants with pertussis require hospitalization, and most pertussis-related deaths occur in babies under two months.
Vaccinating the mother during pregnancy closes this immunity gap by transferring protective antibodies to the baby before birth. The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) recommend that all pregnant women receive a booster dose of the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect their newborns from whooping cough.
Myth: Vaccination during pregnancy is harmful for the baby
Fact: This is one of the most widespread concerns but has no scientific basis. The vaccines recommended during pregnancy are inactivated vaccines. They do not contain live viruses or bacteria and cannot cause disease in either the mother or the baby. Instead, they stimulate the mother's immune system to produce antibodies that are safely passed to the baby.
Large-scale studies have consistently shown these vaccines to be safe, with no increased risk of complications for either mother or child. In fact, vaccinated mothers are better protected and less likely to transmit infections to their newborns. Timing matters too—receiving the booster during the third trimester ensures maximum antibody transfer through the placenta.
In the sea of advice that surrounds pregnancy, it is important to ground decisions in science. The facts about vaccination during pregnancy are supported by decades of research and endorsed by global and Indian medical bodies. Open, informed discussions with your gynecologist can help expecting parents make the right choices.
Because at the end of the day, every baby deserves the best possible start in life.
Source: News18
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