New Delhi: Vaccinating pregnant women against whooping cough enhances infant immunity in early life, a recent study shows.
A new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases has found that vaccinating pregnant women against whooping cough (pertussis) boosts both the quantity and quality of antibodies in their infants during early life, offering enhanced protection during a critical period.
Whooping cough, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection marked by severe coughing fits that can result in a characteristic "whoop" sound during inhalation.
Despite widespread immunisation efforts, pertussis has resurged globally, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating 16 million cases and approximately 195,000 child deaths annually.
To assess the impact of maternal immunisation on infant immune response, researchers from the University of Turku in Finland conducted a randomised, controlled, double-blind, phase 4 trial in the Gambia.
The study evaluated the outcomes of immunising pregnant women with the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (Tdap-IPV) vaccine and its subsequent effect on infants who later received either acellular (aPVs) or whole-cell pertussis vaccines (wPVs).
“This study was designed to evaluate the effect of IP on the immunogenicity of primary acellular or whole-cell pertussis vaccines in a West African cohort,” said the researchers led by Qiushui He, a Professor at the University of Turku.
The findings confirmed that immunisation in pregnancy (IP) is safe and well tolerated, and it successfully enhances pertussis-specific antibody responses in early infancy. This is particularly significant because the highest incidence and mortality from pertussis occur in infants too young to receive their first vaccinations.
However, the researchers also observed a phenomenon known as "blunting"—a reduction in infants’ antibody responses to their primary DTaP (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis) series following maternal immunisation.
This was noted in the IgG antibody concentrations to several pertussis antigens including pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, and diphtheria toxin.
“Although Tdap-IPV (Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis, polio vaccine) was associated with relative blunting of the immune response to the DTwP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-whole-cell pertussis) primary vaccination series, pertussis-specific antibody quality and memory B-cell responses were nevertheless preserved,” the team added.
The study underscores the benefits of maternal immunisation in protecting infants during their most vulnerable months and contributes to global efforts to refine pertussis vaccination strategies.
(with inputs from IANS)