Experts want to expand maternal pertussis vax window by 8 weeks
It comes as two studies show antibodies are higher among women vaccinated earlier
Women can be vaccinated against pertussis earlier in their pregnancy under proposed advice from experts.
The current recommended window for vaccination is 28-32 weeks, but the Australian Technical Advisory Group on ImmuniÂsation (ATAGI) wants to expand that to 20-32 weeks.
The recommended changes to the Australian Immunisation Handbook are based on four studies published between 2015 and 2018, showing that cord blood contains at least as many antibodies with maternal vaccination in the second trimester compared with the third trimester.
Two of the studies showed that the antibodies were higher among women vaccinated early compared with later in pregnancy.
