Infectiepreventie bij zuigelingen door maternale vaccinatie

• In the first few months of life, newborns are vulnerable to infections.
• Vaccination of the pregnant mother leads to transplacental antibody transfer, resulting in the best possible protection of the newborn.
• Maternal vaccination has long been given for the prevention of tetanus in developing countries, and for the prevention of pertussis and influenza in developed countries, such as the United States, England and Belgium. These vaccinations give newborns good protection and, to date, no adverse effects are known for the foetus or the pregnancy.
• Currently, phase 3 trials during pregnancy are ongoing following maternal vaccination against group B streptococci and respiratory syncytial virus. Here, again, no risks to mother or child have been reported.
• Recently, the Dutch Health Council advised that all pregnant women in the Netherlands be vaccinated against pertussis in a vaccination programme.
• This paper gives an overview of effectiveness, safety and practicalities of maternal vaccination.

Conflict of interest and financial support for this article: the institute of L.J. Bont has received fees from Novavax and MedImmune for advisory work, and funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a study on global RSV-related infant mortality.