Influenza and pertussis vaccine uptake during pregnancy among Australian women in south-east Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Objectives: Population-specific studies of vaccine uptake in pregnancy are necessary to monitor progress and ensure enablers to vaccination are locally relevant. We aimed to determine the uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccine during pregnancy in women in southeast Queensland and the reasons why women were choosing not to vaccinate. Methods: A secondary analysis of data collected in a prospective cohort study. Data were collected at enrolment during pregnancy and within six weeks of giving birth. The primary outcome was the proportion of women vaccinated during pregnancy. Results: Among 310 pregnant women, 45.8% and 69.7% were vaccinated against influenza and pertussis, respectively; 123 (39.7%) had received both vaccines. The common predictor of vaccine uptake for influenza, pertussis or both was having had any vaccine in the 12 months prior to pregnancy. Not considering the vaccines necessary and perceptions of the risk of infection were common reasons for not intending to vaccinate. Conclusions: Antenatal vaccine uptake remains suboptimal in women in south-east Queensland. Barriers to vaccination during pregnancy are complex and vary depending on context and population. Implications for public health: More efforts are needed to promote antenatal uptake, particularly for influenza vaccine and having both the influenza and pertussis vaccines during pregnancy.