Ministry of Health Takes Key Step in Neonatal Protection by Officially Integrating Trivalent Vaccine against Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (dTca) into National Vaccination Calendar
The Ministry of Health has taken a crucial step in enhancing neonatal protection by officially incorporating the trivalent vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (dTca) into the national vaccination calendar. This initiative primarily aims to strengthen the protection of mothers and, by extension, that of infants who are still too young to be vaccinated.
According to a recent ministerial circular, the dTca vaccine will replace the bivalent (dT) vaccine, which previously served as a booster for women of childbearing age.
Precise Schedule for Optimal Immunity
The new protocol stipulates that every pregnant woman must receive a dose of this vaccine during the third trimester of her pregnancy. The period between the 27th and 32nd week is particularly recommended to ensure optimal protection of the newborn from the moment of birth.
This process allows the expectant mother to generate specific antibodies that, when transmitted to the fetus, provide the infant with passive and temporary immunity. This biological barrier protects the child until they can develop their own active immunity through the primary vaccination cycle, which begins at two months of age.
Guidelines on Systematic Vaccination and Catch-up
The Ministry of Health emphasizes the need to renew this vaccination during each pregnancy, even in cases where the patient received a dose less than ten years ago. This repetition is essential to ensure sufficient antibody transfer to each child.
In the event that a pregnant woman has not been vaccinated at least one month before term, health authorities recommend immediate catch-up vaccination. In this case, the mother must be vaccinated before discharge from the maternity ward, regardless of her vaccination history, in order to drastically limit the risk of transmitting pertussis to the newborn.
