Here are the key issues concerning the vaccination of pregnant women, to be considered from the first antenatal visits:
Education. Conveying quality information can change one of the main barriers against vaccination, i.e., lack of knowledge about susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases, the morbidity caused by those diseases, and the risks and benefits of vaccines.
Recommendation. Direct communication with a member of the health care team favors the acceptance of vaccines during pregnancy. The obstetric professional’s failure to recommend a vaccine is a predictive factor for not receiving it.
Standardization. The importance of vaccines is a key aspect to address during antenatal care. By advocating for vaccination, those in charge of providing care to pregnant women send a powerful message in favor of immunization, show that they care about the well-being of their patients, and reinforce a culture of normalization of vaccines in the clinic setting.
When counseling pregnant women it is advisable to:
- Explicitly address the importance of vaccination.
- Discuss recommended vaccinations directly and openly.
- Respond to any doubts that may arise on the part of the patient and her entourage.
- Focus the message on the efficacy and safety of vaccines for both the pregnant woman and her baby.
- Deliver a positive message, especially in relation to the expected benefits for the infant, emphasizing the benefits of vaccination (e.g., “Influenza vaccination protects you and your baby from disease”) rather than communicating a negative message, focusing on the risks of not getting vaccinated (e.g., “If you don't get vaccinated, you could become very sick and be sent to intensive care”).
- Clearly express support for the vaccinations prescribed during pregnancy.
- Expressly recommend the vaccines advised for each patient.
The centers can implement various strategies to ensure that members of care teams recommend vaccination (establishing regulations, continuous training on vaccination, and its use as a quality indicator).
