Maternal Vaccination as an Essential Component of Life-Course Immunization and Its Contribution to Preventive Neonatology

Naomi Bergin, Janice Murtagh and Roy K. Philip
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Naomi Bergin: Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL), Limerick V94 C566, Ireland
Janice Murtagh: MSD Ireland Ltd., South County Business Park, Leopardstown, Dublin D18 X5K7, Ireland
Roy K. Philip: Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL), Limerick V94 C566, Ireland

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Maternal immunisation schedules are increasingly coming under the spotlight as part of the development of lifetime immunisation programmes for the role that they play in improving maternal, foetal, and neonatal health. Maternally-acquired antibodies are critical in protecting infants during the first months of their lives. Maternal immunisation was previously overlooked owing to concerns regarding vaccinations in this untested and high-risk population but is now acknowledged for its potential impact on the outcomes in many domains of foetal and neonatal health, aside from its maternal benefits. This article highlights the role that maternal immunisation may play in reducing infections in preterm and term infants. It explores the barriers to antenatal vaccinations and the optimisation of the immunisation uptake. This review also probes the part that maternal immunisation may hold in the reduction of perinatal antimicrobial resistance and the prevention of non-infectious diseases. Both healthcare providers and expectant mothers should continue to be educated on the importance and safety of the appropriate immunizations during pregnancy. Maternal vaccination merits its deserved priority in a life-course immunization approach and it is perhaps the only immunization whereby two generations benefit directly from a single input. We outline the current recommendations for antenatal vaccinations and highlight the potential advances in the field contributing to “ preventive neonatology ”.

Keywords: maternal immunization; life-course immunization; life-long immunization; preventive neonatology; neonatal intensive care; antimicrobial resistance; vaccines; breastfeeding; pregnancy; immunity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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