Vaccination Reduces The Risk Of Illness For Pregnant Women And Babies
Expectant mothers and newborn babies are vulnerable and need extra protection against germs and infectious diseases. Low vaccination rates are leaving pregnant women and infants unprotected against pertussis, influenza, and COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated resources available to help health care providers educate on pregnancy and vaccination.
“Over 75% of the 900 women who responded to a recent American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) study stated the prenatal care provider was the most important source of vaccine information, and their recommendation outweighed their support networks when choosing to receive the Tdap, influenza, and COVID-19 vaccine,” stated Jess Danko, MSHA, RRT, LTC-CIP, program manager for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC).
During respiratory illness season, proper education and promotion of prenatal vaccination is especially important to reduce the risk of severe influenza and hospitalization for pregnant women and infants. South Dakota Project Firstline (SD PFL) recognized the value patients place on provider recommendations and works to educate healthcare teams on infection control, including efforts to increase vaccination rates.
“Vaccination protects everyone,” stressed Danko. “The individual who receives the vaccination is less likely to contract or become sick from illnesses, which protects everyone by preventing the spread of illness and disease.”
Health care professionals can reduce vaccine hesitation using the following tips:
Expect multiple vaccination conversations and engage healthcare staff to answer questions.
Provide vaccination information often and early, including the preconception period, to allow individuals to review information.
Highlight how vaccines protect the infant, as this may be a strong motivator for vaccination.
“The SD PFL team can provide education on many infection prevention and control topics for everyone in a healthcare facility. We tailor training to meet the needs of the healthcare setting and personnel,” said Danko.
Learning opportunities through SD PFL range from basic hand hygiene to handling sharps, needle safety, and bloodborne pathogens. To learn more about PFL or request training visit https://sdprojectfirsline.org.