Maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy may protect infant in first few months of life: JAMA

Among infants younger than 3 months, the effectiveness of maternal vaccination soared to 53%, indicating a stronger protective effect in this vulnerable age group. Notably, infants born to mothers vaccinated during the third trimester exhibited a higher effectiveness rate of 52%, whereas those whose mothers were vaccinated during the first or second trimesters showed a lower effectiveness rate of 17%.

The study's findings underscore the significance of maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy in reducing the risk of influenza-associated hospitalizations and ED visits in infants below 6 months of age. The observed effectiveness was particularly notable in younger infants and those born to mothers vaccinated during the later stages of pregnancy.

These results emphasize the importance of promoting maternal influenza vaccination as a crucial preventive measure to safeguard both maternal and infant health. Encouraging vaccination, especially during the third trimester, could offer substantial protection against influenza-related complications in vulnerable newborns.

Reference:

Sahni, L. C., Olson, S. M., Halasa, N. B., Stewart, L. S., Michaels, M. G., Williams, J. V., Englund, J. A., Klein, E. J., Staat, M. A., Schlaudecker, E. P., Selvarangan, R., Schuster, J. E., Weinberg, G. A., Szilagyi, P. G., Boom, J. A., Patel, M. M., Muñoz, F. M., McNeal, M., Rohlfs, C., … New Vaccine Surveillance Network Collaborators. Maternal vaccine effectiveness against influenza-associated hospitalizations and emergency department visits in infants. JAMA Pediatrics,2023. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.5639