Article
CDC Calls for Improvement in Vaccination Rates Among Pregnant Women
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A new CDC report assesses factors that influence pregnant women’s adherence to vaccination coverage recommendations.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends women who are or will become pregnant to receive the inactivated influenza vaccine, along with a dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap). These vaccines are encouraged to protect infants from severe infections. A new CDC report assesses factors that influence pregnant women’s adherence to vaccination coverage recommendations.
The study examined Tdap and influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women in Minnesota between March 2013 and December 2014. Among 113,730 women who gave birth during this time, 58% received a Tdap vaccination and 46% received an influenza vaccination during their pregnancy.
Women who had received adequate prenatal care, based on the initiation of prenatal care and number of recommended prenatal visits attended, exhibited higher coverage rates. Other factors including the mother’s race, country of birth, and other demographic characteristics seemed to influence vaccination coverage.
The influenza vaccination coverage of 46% falls way below Healthy People 2020 goals of 70% for adult flu vaccination coverage. The report concludes that additional studies should assess barriers to vaccination coverage among women in different demographic groups to better formulate effective strategies. The CDC encourages implementing better measures to improve prenatal care to address the gaps in vaccination rates among women in different demographic groups.
Although strong provider recommendations have been noted to have a positive impact on vaccinations, the CDC calls for a better understanding of factors that influence a provider’s recommendation strategy as well as further investigation into appropriate timing of vaccination during pregnancy.
Reference
Barber A, Halstead Muscoplat M, Federowicz A, et al. Coverage with tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine and influenza vaccine among pregnant women — Minnesota, March 2013-December 2014. MMWR. 66(02);56—59.
