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. 2025 Feb 1;44(2S):S80-S84.
doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004598. Epub 2025 Feb 14.

Pertussis Vaccination During Pregnancy: Regional Situation and Impact of Implementation on National Immunization Programs in Latin America

Angela Gentile  1 , Vanesa E Castellano  1 , Rolando Ulloa-Gutierrez  2 , Lourdes Dueñas  3 , Juan P Torres  4 , Giannina Izquierdo  4 , Ana Cristina Mariño  5 , Mónica Pujadas Ferrer  6 , Daniel Jarovsky  7 , Theresa J Ochoa  8 , Soraya A Araya Yampey  9 , José L Díaz Ortega  10 , Ximena Norero  11 , Xavier Sáez-Llorens  11 , María L Ávila-Agüero  12
Affiliations

Pertussis Vaccination During Pregnancy: Regional Situation and Impact of Implementation on National Immunization Programs in Latin America

Angela Gentile et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. .

Abstract

Background: Infants face a high risk of morbidity and mortality from pertussis early in life, leading to the adoption of maternal vaccination. This study aimed to review the characteristics of the maternal pertussis vaccination in Latin American (LATAM) countries and evaluate their impact on pertussis absolute mortality and case fatality rate (CFR) in infants under 1 year old.

Methods: LATAM countries with maternal tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination in their National Immunization Programs were included. Data on pertussis incidence, deaths and cases in <1-year-old; characteristics of Tdap vaccination in pregnancy; and third dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis and Tdap coverage rates were collected and analyzed. The impact on absolute mortality and CFR was assessed by comparing the percentage reduction between 4 years before and after (up to 2019) the Tdap introduction for each country.

Results: The LATAM countries included were Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Post-Tdap introduction, pertussis incidence declined notably, especially from 2020. The beginning of the maternal Tdap strategy varied, occurring between 2012 and 2019, with a common recommendation at 20 weeks gestation. In most countries, absolute mortality and CFR decreased, though variations ranged from -9.9% to 88.9% and -60.6% to 81.2%, respectively. Tdap and third dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis coverage rates declined by 2021, with rates ranging from 37% to 92% and 58% to 95%, respectively.

Conclusion: The characteristics of maternal Tdap vaccination varied across LATAM countries. The vaccine implementation into the National Immunization Program has reduced pertussis cases, deaths and CFR in infants <1-year-old in most countries.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.G. has received research grants from Sanofi, GSK and Seqirus, and speaker honoraria from Sanofi, Seqirus and Moderna. V.E.C. has received research grants from Sanofi, and speaker honoraria from Sanofi, Pfizer, MSD, Seqirus, GSK and Takeda. V.E.C. has also served as a consultant and expert witness for Sanofi, Pfizer and MSD. R.U.-G. has received speaker honoraria from Sanofi for pertussis-related meetings. L.D. has received research grants from Pfizer and has received speaker honoraria from Sanofi, Pfizer and MSD. J.P.T. has received speaker honoraria from Sanofi, Pfizer and Merck. G.I. has received speaker honoraria from Pfizer. M.P.F. has received advisory board honoraria from Sanofi Pasteur. D.J. has received honoraria from Abbott, Cepheid, GSK, Janssen, MSD Brazil, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Takeda outside the submitted work. D.J. has also worked as an investigator for GSK, Janssen, MSD Brazil, and Takeda, and has received research grants for conducting clinical studies outside the submitted work. M.L.A.A. has received research grants from Sanofi and has received speaker honoraria from Sanofi, Pfizer and MSD. M.L.A.A. has also been involved as a consultant and expert witness for Sanofi, Pfizer, and MSD. Other authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

References

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