Due to the rebound in cases of pertussis in Spain in recent years that has caused the death of three newborns in recent months, medical societies recommend vaccinating all pregnant women against pertussis.
The first dose is given to the baby at two months (before it is not advisable to do it in such a small baby), but when vaccinating the pregnant woman the antibodies cross the placenta protecting the baby in 90% against the disease during the first weeks of life until you can receive the vaccine. Now there are two basic problems. The first, that not all pregnant women are informed of the importance of getting vaccinated and what is worse, that although they want to get vaccinated it is practically impossible to get the vaccine according to where you live. Where is the vaccine?
Autonomous communities where pregnant women are vaccinated against pertussis
The Spanish autonomous communities that have already incorporated pertussis vaccination in pregnant women are: Asturias, Canary Islands, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Extremadura, Navarra and the Basque Country.
Castilla la Mancha he has been doing it since November 9, after the death of Cuenca occurred (is there a need for a death to start vaccinating?). And after the case of the dead baby in Malaga, Andalusia announced that it will start vaccinating from January 1, 2016.
Too Aragon, Balearic Islands, Madrid and Murcia They have announced their incorporation for 2016.
And the rest of the communities? As you know, in terms of vaccination, each autonomous community is governed by its own vaccination calendar. Each community decides whether to adhere or not, therefore there is tremendous inequality according to the community in which they live. Do more babies have to die to react?
The Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics also denounces that there are communities that ignored the vaccination recommendations. "With the studies that exist, the only measure to avoid these deaths and hospitalizations is to vaccinate pregnant women, and since June there is this recommendation from the Ministry, but many communities have not taken the step."
Where is the pertussis vaccine?
Since June 2015 The Ministry of Health recommends vaccination of all pregnant women through a document of the Public Health Commission. But in practice, the vaccine is missing. The mother of one of the deceased babies said she had tried to get the vaccine without success and that she did not get it at the pharmacies either.
Given the alarm generated, the Minister of Health, Alfonso Alonso has announced the purchase of 60,000 pertussis vaccines and has guaranteed that the drug will reach "everyone" wanting to send a message of tranquility, but the truth is that until today the information and confusion are maximum.
When should the pregnant woman get vaccinated against pertussis
According to a study in the United Kingdom, when women are vaccinated during pregnancy, cases of whooping cough decrease by up to 33%, hospitalizations up to 38% and deaths up to 39%.
The vaccine can be given to every pregnant woman from 28 weeks gestation, and until week 38. The recommendation is that vaccination be carried out between week 28 and 32, since it is from that moment (week 32) when the placenta begins to pass antibodies to the baby.
