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Immunization in Pregnancy with Adacel Vaccine

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May 10, 2018

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has recently released its updated recommendations related to the administration of Adacel (Tetanus Toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and reduced acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during pregnancy to increase protection, specifically against pertussis for the newborn.

NACI Recommendations:

  1. Immunization with Tdap vaccine should be offered in every pregnancy, irrespective of previous Tdap immunization history (Strong NACI Recommendation). NACI concludes that there is good evidence to recommend immunization (Grade A Evidence).
    Routine maternal immunization during pregnancy will provide a more robust and complete protection against pertussis in infants compared to immunization during outbreak settings only.
  2. Immunization with Tdap vaccine should ideally be provided between 27 and 32 weeks of gestation (Strong NACI recommendation, Grade A Evidence). It may be provided from 13 weeks up to the time of delivery in view of programmatic and unique patient considerations (Discretionary NACI Recommendation, Grade A/B Evidence).

IMPORTANT – Only one dose of Adacel (Tdap) administered to adults is publicly funded. So if the pregnant woman has already received Adacel as an adult, she would have to pay for the additional dose given during pregnancy.

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