Issue 12/2025
Hristamyan, M.
Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University – Plovdiv
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. Infants under three months of age are most vulnerable and are at high risk of severe illness, complications, and death. The main strategy to protect this group is maternal vaccination, which reduces morbidity and mortality in newborns. This review examines the official recommendations, effectiveness, safety, and barriers to pertussis vaccination during pregnancy, analyzing 34 current scientific sources. Current pertussis vaccines are acellular and are a component of Tdap, a combination vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Vaccination with a single dose in the second or third trimester promotes transplacental transfer of antibodies, significantly reducing pertussis cases and hospitalisations in infants under 3 months of age. The data confirm the safety and effectiveness of vaccination during pregnancy, without increased risk to the mother or newborn. However, vaccination rates vary and are often suboptimal due to safety concerns, lack of awareness, social, cultural, and language barriers, underestimation of the severity of the disease, lack of recommendations from health professionals, and political and structural factors.
Further research and measures are needed to overcome these barriers, but the evidence strongly supports vaccination for the protection of newborns.
Key words: pertussis, vaccine, pregnancy, newborns, safety, effectiveness, barriers
Address for correspondence:
Meri Hristamyan, Medical University – Plovdiv
15А, „Vasil Aprilov“, Blvd.
4002, Plovdiv
е-mail: meri.hristamyan@mu-plovdiv.bg