In March of 2020, the whole world changed and headed towards a very strange and different setting. Corona Virus (or COVID-19) hit the world in a storm. Although this is virus that we still do not know a lot about, there are some that have been around for hundreds of years. Even today, there one that effects women, children and even dogs: Bordetella Pertussis, also known as the whooping cough. Luckily today there are vaccines against it, known as the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis). When I worked for an OB-GYN practice in New Jersey, women who were pregnant were strongly advised to get the Tdap vaccine around their 28th week of pregnancy (but per the CDC (2017), anywhere between 27 and 36 weeks is safe to receive the vaccine, however the sooner a expectant mom gets the shot, the better response she can get from the antibody. Also, to make sure there is a better chance of passive transfer to baby in the womb). As the world seemed to come to a stand still for a very long while in 2020 from COVID-19, it may seem that other illnesses did not seem as potent. Bordetella Pertussis is still extremely relevant. Recently in the Hindustan Times (Khan, T. 2022) it is showing us that even today this bacteria is still around and growing. In India, vaccines for adults was not standard practice. As COVID-19 soared through India and the world, the country realized how imperative vaccinations are for all ages. In early 2021, the COVID-19 vaccines were being offered to the people of India, but not to expectant mothers, since they were not permitted to part of the trail. To protect the mother and fetus as best they can, there is still the influenza and pertussis vaccines. As they learned in India that the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, can create extreme symptoms in infants 3months and younger. The infants do receive the Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) at around 1 ½ months. To ensure that even into those first few months of life, and even more so if the mother has weak anti-pertussis antibodies, it is vital to both the mother and baby is make sure she is inoculated with the Tdap. Especially since it states in the article that the immunity to Bordetella pertussis can significantly wear off with age. As the United States and the United Kingdom have a protocol of vaccines for pregnant women, India is working om implanting something similar. Unfortunately in certain areas that are not as economically stable, the standard of care is different than it would be in wealthier areas. Especially with COVID-19 having such respiratory responses, it is vital that all countries are able to vaccinate the expecting mothers with safe vaccines so they can ensure the babies health once born. Whether it be from placental transfer or through breastfeeding, moms want to keep their newborns healthy, and the pertussis vaccine is a great way to do that. Whopping cough is a horrible thing for a child to have, and with the other viruses out there that can make moms and babies more susceptible to the viruses that attack the lungs, the vaccine during pregnancy is a great source to help immunity is all countries.
