The nation's pediatricians say all pregnant women need to get a vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new immunization schedule.
The one major change is a recommendation that all pregnant women get a whooping cough vaccine. It's a combination whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccine, ideally around 27 to 36 weeks into the pregnancy.
Because infants are most at-risk of contracting whooping cough, before they can be immunized, they are better protected if the mother receives the vaccine during each pregnancy. The recommendation is also in response to the growing number of whooping cough cases nationally.
The one major change is a recommendation that all pregnant women get a whooping cough vaccine. It's a combination whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccine, ideally around 27 to 36 weeks into the pregnancy.
Because infants are most at-risk of contracting whooping cough, before they can be immunized, they are better protected if the mother receives the vaccine during each pregnancy. The recommendation is also in response to the growing number of whooping cough cases nationally.
