Campaign to improve public awareness on pertussis, Tdap vaccination in pregnant mothers takes off

The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a timely reminder of the need to address vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) that are potentially life-threatening, such as pertussis (whooping cough), from which we can easily protect our most vulnerable group of young infants.

A safe and effective way to protect young infants from VPDs is via maternal immunization. [Health Aff 2016;35(2):309–316]   In line with this, obstetricians and gynaecologists launched a public awareness campaign themed ‘Protect Me, To Protect My Baby.’ The aim of the campaign is to draw focus on the gravity and severity of pertussis on young infants and the importance of maternal immunization in providing protection to young infants from VPDs.

Accordingly, the approval of the 3-in-1 Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine in Malaysia for administration during a mother’s second and third trimesters of pregnancy, is in line with the campaign’s aims. Immunizing mothers before the baby is born will protect newborns when they are at their most vulnerable ie, prior to active immunization at 2 months of age.

Dr Patricia Lim Su-Lyn, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in private practice, believes that maternal immunization is underappreciated even though it is a  safeand effective way to protect infants from diseases that would otherwise threaten their lives. [Health Aff 2016;35(2):309-316]   She said: “We see an urgent need for maternal immunization education for all pregnant moms out there who want to do everything they can to keep their little ones safe and healthy, including being vaccinated themselves so that the baby gets the early protection.”

Pertussis, VPDs making a resurgence
Pertussis is highly contagious, there is an 80 percent secondary attack rate amongst susceptible household contacts. [https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html Accessed on 25 June, 2021] In severe cases, pertussis can lead to pneumonia, convulsions, and brain damage. [https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/complications.html Accessed on 25 June, 2021] To make matters worse, pertussis can sometimes be misdiagnosed as other communicable diseases such as tuberculosis.

The WHO VPD monitoring system revealed that a few VPDs have been increasing over the past 20 years in Malaysia including Japanese encephalitis, diphtheria, and tetanus. However, one of the biggest increases can be seen in the incidence of pertussis. [https://apps.who.int/immunization_monitoring/globalsummary/incidences?c=MYS Accessed on 25 June, 2021]

The Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah voiced his concern last year about the trend of increasing VPDs in the country and called for parents to be diligent in ensuring their children are vaccinated on schedule despite the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [https://kpkesihatan.com/2020/04/24/kenyataan-akhbar-kpk-24-april-2020-minggu-imunisasi-kebangsaan-24-30-april-2020-world-immunization-week-2020/ Accessed on 25 June, 2021].