Bridging the gap: Maternal immunisation as a means to reduce neonatal deaths from infectious diseases

Lindsey, Ben, Jones, Christine and Kampmann, Beate (2012) Bridging the gap: Maternal immunisation as a means to reduce neonatal deaths from infectious diseases. Pathogens and Global Health, 106 (3), 137-138. (doi:10.1179/204777312X13462106637684).

Abstract

Although significant progress towards Millennium Goals 4 and 5 has been recorded, neonatal mortality remains a global challenge. There were an estimated 3·3 million neonatal deaths worldwide in 2009, accounting for a significant proportion of under-5-year mortality. Progress in this age group is now most urgently required.Citation1 Infectious diseases are the major cause of neonatal deaths and some can be prevented by vaccination, which is accepted as one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions. However, to achieve full protection against infections requires multiple doses of vaccines given over several months in the first year of life.
During this particularly vulnerable period of early infancy, newborns remain partially protected through transfer of immunoglobulins from the mother, which carry specific antibodies against infections or vaccine antigens that the mother had previously encountered. However, maternal levels of such specific immunoglobulin (IgG) are frequently sub-optimal.Citation2 Maternal immunisation represents a strategy that could be employed to ‘bridge the gap’ in protection: the aim is to enhance the antibody levels against a particular infectious disease by giving the vaccine to the pregnant woman, who will then transmit a protective level of antibody to her infant in utero and through breastmilk after birth. Multiple factors can affect the transfer of IgG across the placenta, including maternal IgG concentration, the IgG subtype, gestational age and maternal co-infections, such as HIV.Citation3 These factors, among others, also determine the level of immunity that an infant can obtain from a maternal vaccine

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Contributors

Author: Christine Jones

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