The Historical Aspects of Vaccination in Pregnancy

Mackin, David William; Walker, Susan P.

As we live through the history-making pandemic of COVID-19, it is timely to consider the lessons that history has taught us about vaccine-preventable disease in pregnancy. Vaccinations have earned an established place in pregnancy care to prevent communicable disease in the mother, fetus and newborn. The improvements in maternal and perinatal outcome have been achieved through the evolution and application of new knowledge in many areas. These include; recognition of the unique pathogenic consequences of diseases in pregnancy; improved understanding of the maternal immune system and its interplay with the fetus; optimising safe vaccine development; ensuring pregnant women are included in appropriately designed trials of efficacy, and public health engagement to optimise uptake. As the world eagerly awaits an effective vaccine for COVID 19, these lessons of history help signpost the way, to ensure the potential of vaccinations to reduce morbidity for pregnant women and their newborns is fully realised.