GSK Vietnam, in tandem with local medical associations, organising a series of seminars promoting the use of pertussis vaccine to protect babies during pregnancy

The seminar series were an opportunity for experts to emphasise the need for adult immunisation, especially for pregnant women.

The experts discussed the latest scientific data and the burden of pertussis infection in infants who are too young to be vaccinated.

According to Pham Quang Thai, vice head of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, for more than 50 per cent of severe pertussis infected children, their mother is the most common source of transmission during the first three months of life.

Medical reports globally show up to 93 per cent of pertussis cases require hospitalisation due to complications such as pneumonia, seizures, or brain damage, and more than 73 per cent of pertussis deaths occur in infants from 0-3 months of age.

Pham Quang Thai emphasising the burden of pertussis infection in infants who are too young to be vaccinated

Recognising the need for early immunisation to protect newborns, the World Health Organization and healthcare systems in over 40 countries, including the UK, the US, Brazil, and Australia, have issued vaccination recommendations for pregnant women to protect their children during the ‘immunity gap’ period.

During the panel discussion, Le Quang Thanh, president of Ho Chi Minh City Maternal and Fetal Medicine Association, and director of Tu Du Hospital reminded the audience of the lessons learned from the COVID pandemic and the benefit of early prevention with vaccines.

Vaccination coverage among adults, especially pregnant women, has historically been low. Fortunately, there have been positive changes since the pandemic spread, as more people have been aware of the importance of disease prevention and the role of health professionals including pulmonologists and obstetricians, in vaccination counseling to the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions, and pregnant women.

Le Quang Thanh giving remarks at the seminar

Pham Thi My Lien, president of GSK Vietnam said, “GSK is proud to support the Vietnam healthcare system to bring new advanced medical solutions to the Vietnamese people for disease prevention. We hope the Vietnamese government will continue to recommend vaccination to protect adults from vaccine preventable diseases, particularly in the elderly, people with chronic diseases, and pregnant women.”