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Disparities in Tdap Vaccination and Vaccine Information Needs Among Pregnant Women in the United States

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Abstract

Objectives The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that pregnant women receive the Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy. The objectives of this paper are to evaluate disparities in Tdap vaccination among pregnant women in the U.S., and to assess whether race/ethnicity and other characteristics are associated with factors that inform pregnant women’s decisions about Tdap vaccination. Methods We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional web-based survey of pregnant women in the U.S. during June–July 2014. The primary outcome was self-reported vaccination status with Tdap during pregnancy, categorized as vaccinated, unvaccinated with intent to be vaccinated during the current pregnancy, and unvaccinated with no intent to be vaccinated during the current pregnancy. Secondary outcomes included factors that influenced women’s decisions about vaccination and information needs. We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios for associations between race/ethnicity and the outcomes. Results Among pregnant women who completed the survey, 41% (95% CI 36–45%) reported that they had received Tdap during the current pregnancy. Among those women in the third trimester at the time of survey, 52% (95% CI 43–60%) had received Tdap during the current pregnancy. Hispanic women had higher Tdap vaccination than white women and black women (53%, p < 0.05, compared with 38 and 36%, respectively). In logistic regression models adjusting for maternal age, geographic region, education, and income, Hispanic women were more likely to have been vaccinated with Tdap compared with white women (aOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.20–4.37). Higher income and residing in the western U.S. were also independently associated with Tdap vaccination during pregnancy. Twenty-six percent of surveyed women had not been vaccinated with Tdap yet but intended to receive the vaccine during the current pregnancy; this proportion did not differ significantly by race/ethnicity. The most common factor that influenced women to get vaccinated was a health care provider (HCP) recommendation. The most common reason for not getting vaccinated was a concern about safety of the vaccine. Conclusions This study found that some disparities exist in Tdap vaccination among pregnant women in the U.S., and HCPs have an important role in providing information and recommendations about the maternal Tdap recommendation to pregnant women so they can make informed vaccination decisions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Jennifer L. Kriss

  2. Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Alison P. Albert, Angela J. Jiles & Jennifer L. Liang

  3. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Victoria M. Carter, Jennifer Mullen, Leslie Rodriguez & Allison Fisher

  4. Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Penelope P. Howards

  5. Emory Vaccine Center and School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Walter A. Orenstein

  6. Hubert Department of Global Health and Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Saad B. Omer

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  1. Jennifer L. Kriss
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Correspondence to Jennifer L. Kriss.

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This project was supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Kriss, J.L., Albert, A.P., Carter, V.M. et al. Disparities in Tdap Vaccination and Vaccine Information Needs Among Pregnant Women in the United States. Matern Child Health J 23, 201–211 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2633-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2633-8

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