FDA approves Adacel vaccine during pregnancy to protect infants against pertussis

The Adacel vaccine is FDA-approved for active booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in individuals ages 10 through 64 years. It was the first vaccine globally to have a licensed indication for use in pregnancy to help prevent pertussis in young infants.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Very young infants are at the highest risk of complications due to pertussis because of their still developing immune systems, and nearly half of babies ages 6 months and younger who get pertussis may need care in the hospital. Additionally, 1 out of 100 infants hospitalized for pertussis dies.

Although it can be prevented with vaccination, pertussis often goes undiagnosed. It can lead to severe and sometimes life-threatening health problems, such as exacerbation of chronic medical conditions such as asthma. For children and adults, initial symptoms typically develop between 7 and 10 days after exposure and are the same as a common cold. The next stage of illness is characterized by frequent bouts of paroxysmal cough and inspiratory whooping.

The CDC recommends Tdap vaccination during every pregnancy. When given during the third trimester, Adacel can help pregnant individuals create antibodies against the bacteria that cause pertussis, which are passed to the infant before birth. These antibodies help protect the infant against whooping cough during the first few months of life.

The efficacy of Adacel when administered during the third trimester to prevent pertussis among infants younger than 2 months of age was established in a clinical study using innovative real-world data, according to a press release. In that study, the efficacy of the vaccine at preventing pertussis was found to be 88%.