In a press release published this Tuesday, April 12, the French health authorities recommend the whooping cough vaccine to pregnant women to protect their newborn.
If until now, only those around infants were encouraged to vaccinate against whooping cough, this Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in a press release, the High Health Authority (HAS) recommends that future mothers also get vaccinated. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria called “Bordetella pertussis”. In some fragile people such as the elderly, pregnant women or infants, this disease, which results in severe coughing spells for several weeks, can become very serious and can cause sometimes fatal complications in the little ones.
“Over 90% of pertussis deaths occur in newborns and children under six months of age”, said the High Authority for Health (HAS). This is why thehe health authority now recommends vaccination against whooping cough for expectant mothers.
A cocooning strategy
According to HAS recommendations, pregnant women should be vaccinated from the second trimester of pregnancy.. Specialists believe that this vaccination allows their newborn to be protected from birth against this disease, which is particularly dangerous for infants.
“If vaccination could not be carried out during pregnancy, the HAS recommends maintaining the cocooning strategy, which consists of vaccinating the family and the mother as soon as possible at the birth of the child”said the institution in its press release.
Good to know, vaccination against whooping cough is part of the baby’s compulsory vaccines provided for in his vaccination schedule.
If you are pregnant, ask your doctor or midwife about pertussis vaccination.