Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: a questionnaire survey of general practitioners in the South Moravian Region, 2024

Abstract

The aim was to compare the general practitioners' attitudes towards pertussis vaccination in pregnancy in the South Moravian Region in 2019 and 2024. Using a questionnaire survey, a significant increase was found in active recommendation of vaccination, in the interest from pregnant women and in vaccinations completed in general practitioners' offices. The main factors behind this shift were increased media coverage of pertussis and growing awareness of the importance of vaccination for the protection of young children. The results point to the need to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between GPs and gynaecologists and to consider the possibility to cover vaccination by health insurance.

Keywords: South Moravian Region; general practitioner; pertussis; pregnancy; vaccination.