Which vaccine is recommended for pregnant women to protect against whooping cough?

The Tdap vaccine is recommended for pregnant women to protect against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. This vaccine is particularly important because whooping cough can lead to severe complications in infants. By administering the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, mothers are able to pass on protective antibodies to their newborns, helping to shield them from the disease during their first few months of life when they are too young to be vaccinated themselves.

The timing of the vaccine is crucial; it is usually advised that the vaccine be given around 27 to 36 weeks of gestation to maximize the transfer of immunity to the baby. This proactive approach has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of whooping cough in infants, which can be life-threatening in very young children.

In contrast, the MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella but is contraindicated during pregnancy. The flu vaccine is recommended during pregnancy to protect both the mother and the baby from influenza but does not offer protection against whooping cough. The Hepatitis B vaccine provides protection against Hepatitis B virus but is unrelated to whooping cough. Therefore, the Tdap vaccine is the correct choice for preventing whooping cough in newborns through maternal