Effect of a Prepregnancy Pertussis Booster Dose on Maternal Antibody Titers in Young Infants

Abstract

To examine the influence of a pertussis booster vaccination on the transfer of maternal antibodies, 24 nonpregnant women received a tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis booster vaccine between 2 consecutive pregnancies. Blood was drawn from mothers and off-spring. Efficient transplacental antibody transfer and significantly higher antibody titers against 3 pertussis antigens were observed in cord blood and in blood of 1-month-old infants born after a maternal booster vaccination compared with results in their siblings born before the booster administration.