THL recommends whooping cough booster for pregnant women in Finland

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is recommending a booster dose of the whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women. Whooping cough poses a significant threat to infants under one year, particularly newborns. The recommendation follows a rise in whooping cough cases in Finland, especially among younger age groups. This year, there have been 1,233 laboratory-confirmed cases of whooping cough reported, which is notably higher compared to the same period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Chief Physician Hanna Nohynek, approximately one-third of those who contracted the disease during the spring and summer were children. The national vaccination program begins with whooping cough vaccines for infants at three months of age. Concerns have been raised that very young children, particularly those under three months old, are at the highest risk of serious whooping cough illness, Nohynek explains.

Therefore, THL advises that the booster vaccination should occur during weeks 16 to 32 of pregnancy. Antibodies obtained from the mother through vaccination are believed to provide protection to the newborn for the first six months. “By that time, the child should have reached a safe level of vaccination protection,” Nohynek adds. This new recommendation is temporary and will be in effect until next spring. Expecting mothers can receive the vaccine during routine prenatal visits, impacting approximately 44,000 pregnant women. THL encourages that the vaccine be administered during normal maternity clinic appointments to avoid extra visits.