A recent study finds that Tdap vaccination during pregnancy or breastfeeding does not impair infant growth or increase emergency healthcare visits, supporting ongoing immunisation recommendations.
A new study in the journal Vaccine adds to evidence that Tdap vaccination during pregnancy or breastfeeding does not harm infant growth. Researchers found no meaningful link between maternal tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis immunisation and slower weight gain, growth faltering or emergency department visits in babies.
The analysis drew on electronic health records from two US health systems and covered more than 33,000 pregnancies for growth outcomes and more than 25,000 for healthcare use. According to the study, infants exposed to the vaccine during pregnancy were not more likely to have growth problems between three and 12 months of age, and there was no increase in emergency care within the first six months after birth. The only signal noted was a small rise in outpatient visits, which the authors said could not rule out differences in health-seeking behaviour.
For mothers who received Tdap after delivery while breastfeeding, the findings were similarly reassuring. In that group, the study found no association with impaired infant growth or higher use of emergency services. The results support the long-standing recommendation that Tdap in pregnancy helps protect newborns against pertussis, or whooping cough, without evidence of harm to development.
The new paper is consistent with earlier research published in Vaccine and summarised by CIDRAP and PubMed, which also found no increased risk of adverse infant outcomes after maternal Tdap vaccination. Taken together, the studies provide real-world reassurance for parents and clinicians weighing the benefits of immunisation during pregnancy and lactation.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
