Vaccination during pregnancy has been shown to be an effective measure to protect mothers and babies against infection and negative health outcomes. In Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that all pregnant women receive the influenza vaccine and the Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) vaccine during each pregnancy. The flu vaccine helps protect the mother and baby from flu-related complications. The Tdap vaccine is given during pregnancy because it has been shown to protect newborns from pertussis (whooping cough) during the first two months of their life when they are most vulnerable to this disease. Although the Tdap vaccine includes tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, respondents were only asked about vaccination against pertussis and this article will be referring to pertussis only.
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