Which vaccine is recommended for pregnant women to protect against whooping cough?

The Tdap vaccine is recommended for pregnant women to protect against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. This vaccine is crucial because whooping cough can be particularly severe in young infants, and vaccinating mothers during pregnancy helps to pass protective antibodies to the baby through the placenta. The ideal time for administering the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy is between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation, as this timing maximizes the antibody transfer to the fetus.

Administering the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy is a key public health strategy aimed at reducing the incidence of pertussis in newborns, who are at the highest risk for serious complications from the disease. By ensuring that mothers are immunized, the likelihood of severe pertussis infection in infants is significantly lowered.

In contrast, the other vaccines listed are recommended for different purposes and populations. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella but is generally not recommended during pregnancy due to the live attenuated virus component. The Hepatitis B vaccine is primarily recommended for those at risk of Hepatitis B infection, and the Flu vaccine is advised for pregnant women to protect against influenza, but it does not provide protection against whooping cough.