Influenza, Tdap, and COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Hesitancy Among Pregnant Women - United States, April 2023

Abstract

Influenza, tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), and COVID-19 vaccines can reduce the risk for influenza, pertussis, and COVID-19 among pregnant women and their infants. To assess influenza, Tdap, and COVID-19 vaccination coverage among women pregnant during the 2022-23 influenza season, CDC analyzed data from an Internet panel survey conducted during March 28-April 16, 2023. Among 1,814 survey respondents who were pregnant at any time during October 2022-January 2023, 47.2% reported receiving influenza vaccine before or during their pregnancy. Among 776 respondents with a live birth by their survey date, 55.4% reported receiving Tdap vaccine during pregnancy. Among 1,252 women pregnant at the time of the survey, 27.3% reported receipt of a COVID-19 bivalent booster dose before or during the current pregnancy. Data from the same questions included in surveys conducted during influenza seasons 2019-20 through 2022-23 show that the proportion of pregnant women who reported being very hesitant about influenza and Tdap vaccinations during pregnancy increased from 2019-20 to 2022-23. Pregnant women who received a provider recommendation for vaccination were less hesitant about influenza and Tdap vaccines. Promotion of efforts to improve vaccination coverage among pregnant women, such as provider recommendation for vaccination and informative conversations with patients to address vaccine hesitancy, might reduce vaccine hesitancy and increase coverage with these important vaccines to protect mothers and their infants against severe respiratory diseases.

FIGURE

Percentage of pregnant women who were hesitant about receiving influenza vaccine (A) and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (B) — Internet panel survey, United States, 2019–20 through 2022–23 influenza seasons Abbreviation: Tdap = tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis. * Respondents who were pregnant at any time since August 1 and answered the hesitancy questions (2019–20: 2,261 [influenza and Tdap vaccines]; 2020–21: 2,287 [influenza vaccine] and 2,286 [Tdap vaccine]; 2021–22: 2,485 [influenza vaccine] and 2,484 [Tdap vaccine]; 2022–23: 2,327 [influenza vaccine] and 2,328 [Tdap vaccine]). ^† Respondents were asked the following questions, “Overall, how hesitant are you about flu vaccination during your pregnancy?” and “Overall, how hesitant are you about Tdap vaccination during your pregnancy?“ Answer choices were 1) Not at all hesitant, 2) Not that hesitant, 3) Somewhat hesitant, and 4) Very hesitant.