Increasing Pertussis and Influenza Vaccinations Rates Among Postpartum Women

Multiple organizations have recommended cocooning—vaccination of household contacts of infants' age less than 12 months—against influenza and pertussis, however logistical and financial barriers have precluded widespread implementation of cocooning at a national level. This project included postpartum mothers of infants admitted to the low risk nursery or NICU who were eligible to receive influenza vaccination and/or pertussis vaccination. Our goal was to increase maternal postpartum vaccination rates against influenza from 50% in November 2013 to 90% by March 2014 and against pertussis from less than 5% in November 2013 to 90% by May 2014. Our project had minimal impact on influenza vaccinations rates (decreased from 40 to 24%) but significant impact on pertussis vaccination rates (increased from < 5% to 61%). This article describes the partially successful implementation of a postpartum cocooning program at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital (CMHH) in Houston, Texas.