Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists and Duke faculty Geeta Swamy, MD, and Brenna Hughes, MD, MSc, along with fellow members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness Expert Work Group, have collaborated through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to produce educational materials on prenatal influenza and Tdap immunization for clinical practices.
"Duke Obstetrics and Gynecology recognizes the importance of Ob/Gyn provider recommendations to improve vaccination rates among pregnant women," stated Dr. Hughes. "ACOG suggests providers offer clear counseling that pregnant women should receive influenza and Tdap vaccinations during every pregnancy."
Through the a cooperative agreement with the CDCl, ACOG has developed these free infographics and corresponding text on prenatal influenza and Tdap immunization for use on practice websites, patient portals, and social media pages. Ob/Gyns and other health care providers are encouraged to download these graphics and post them on the trusted web platforms associated with their practice to help ensure patients have access to accurate information on maternal immunization outside of the office setting.
The downloadable campaign materials include the following graphics and accompanying verbiage for prenatal influenza and Tdap (whooping cough) immunizations:
Protect Your Baby and Yourself: Get the Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy
The flu may sound like no big deal, but it’s especially dangerous for pregnant women and newborns. If you’re pregnant and have the flu, you may have serious health complications and need treatment at a hospital. You also may have complications with your pregnancy, such as preterm labor, premature birth, and birth defects. Babies with the flu can develop pneumonia, dehydration, and brain problems. The flu can lead to death in both pregnant women and babies.
The good news: The flu vaccine is a safe way to help keep you and your baby healthy. When you get the flu vaccine during pregnancy, it helps protect your newborn until his or her first flu vaccine at age 6 months. The vaccine also is effective at preventing serious flu illness in pregnant women.
The flu vaccine is safe for you and your fetus when given at any time during pregnancy. All pregnant women should get the flu vaccine.
Download Influenza Vaccine Graphic
Protect Your Baby and Yourself: Get the Tdap Vaccine During Pregnancy
Have you heard about whooping cough? It’s a serious disease that can be deadly for babies. Babies with whooping cough (also called pertussis) have violent coughing fits and a hard time breathing.
You can help protect your baby from whooping cough by getting the whooping cough vaccine (Tdap) during pregnancy. The vaccine creates antibodies that are passed to your fetus. After you give birth, the antibodies protect your newborn until his or her first whooping cough vaccine at age 2 months.
The best time for you to get the vaccine is between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy. It helps to get the vaccine as early in this window as possible.
Remember: All pregnant women should get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy. It is a safe and smart step to take to protect your baby’s health.
