A recent survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that while Tdap vaccination in pregnancy is on the rise, only 48.8% of women surveyed in 2016 received the vaccination during their pregnancy. Since late 2012, the CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended that women receive a Tdap vaccination during every pregnancy, optimally at 27 through 36 weeks of gestation.
The most common reasons that women cited for not receiving Tdap vaccination include “Didn’t know I was supposed to get Tdap during my pregnancy (25.5%)” and “Did not receive a recommendation from a doctor or nurse (23.1%).” Health care providers play a vital role in creating awareness of the Tdap vaccine recommendation.
Resources from the CDC:
- Rationale: Why Vaccinate Pregnant Women?
- Print materials to use with your patients
- Committee opinion from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Position statement from American College of Nurse-Midwives
- Pregnant? Get Tdap in Your Third Trimester
- Text4Baby: Free text messages for pregnancy through baby’s first year