Pertussis/Whooping Cough

The central aim of this study is to investigate the optimal timing of vaccination in pregnant women. Therefore, pregnant women will be vaccinated against pertussis at different timepoints and blood and breast milk samples will be taken at several timepoints. The main objectives are to assess the impact of timing on humoral and cellular immune responses in pregnant women, on antibody characteristics transferred across the placenta and on transplacental transport efficiency. The impact of maternal pertussis vaccination and timing of maternal pertussis vaccination on breastmilk antibody composition will also be investigated, as well as the impact of vaccination during pregnancy on the mucosal uptake of breastmilk IgA antibodies by the infant respiratory and gastrointestinal tract.

Since 2002, Whooping cough surveillance in pediatric private practice has been set up in France. The results of the first years, 2002-2006, have confirmed the effectiveness of the Pertussis whole-cell (Pw) vaccine and in particular the duration of protection of 9/10 years. After evaluating cases in children vaccinated with Pw vaccines, the study aims today to analyze cases in children vaccinated with Pertussis acellular (Pa) vaccines used since 2002/2003 and to assess, on an outpatient basis, the impact of new vaccine recommendations in France (in 2013, introduction of a 2 + 1 schedule - 8 weeks, 4 months and a 11-month recall - and a 6-year recall, and in 2014, update in the recommendations of exams to be prescribed based on the child's age and vaccination status).