What is a potential consequence of not administering the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy?

Not administering the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy presents a significant risk for the newborn, particularly due to the lack of maternal antibodies that would otherwise provide critical protection. Pertussis, or whooping cough, can be severe in infants, leading to complications such as hospitalization, pneumonia, and even death.

Vaccination during pregnancy allows the mother to pass on protective antibodies to the fetus, which helps shield the newborn from pertussis during the first few months of life when they are too young to receive their own vaccinations. Therefore, failing to administer the Tdap vaccine increases the likelihood that the infant will be unprotected at a time when they are particularly vulnerable to severe disease from pertussis.

This highlights the importance of maternal immunization not only for the health of the mother but also to safeguard the newborn during a critical period.