Estrategias de vacunación para prevenir la tos ferina en mujeres embarazadas y neonatos

There is controversy on the immunization strategy that should be adopted to prevent pertussis in pregnant women and neonates. This is, due to the fact that pertussis is an endemic disease in developed countries and is transmitted by young people and adults infected by Bordetella pertussis to pregnant women and neonates, in whom it may be a severe illness. Four vaccination strategies using acellular pertussis vaccines can be developed to prevent pertussis in neonates: a) immunization of all teenagers and adults, b) immunization of all contacts of neonates, c) immunization of women of childbearing age and pregnant women and d) immunization of neonates. The strategy of immunizing women of childbearing age and pregnant women has been suggested to increase protection against pertussis during pregnancy and in neonates, since antibodies are transmitted to the fetus and does not interfere with DTPa vaccination of neonates.