OpTIMUM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising the Timing of whooping cough Immunisation in MUMs
IRAS ID
249236
Contact name
Paul Heath
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St George's, University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Whooping cough is a highly infectious respiratory illness which can cause significant illness and death in young infants. Following introduction of childhood whooping cough vaccination there was a significant reduction in the incidence of whooping cough disease, but over the last few years there has been a resurgence in disease even in countries with good vaccine coverage. Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy has been identified as a strategy which protects infants in the first months of life when they are most vulnerable to infection and severe consequences of disease. Vaccination in pregnancy results in an increase in maternal antibody (a protein which fights infection) against whooping cough and consequently increases the amount of antibody in the infant providing protection until they are old enough to receive their own vaccinations. There is good evidence that whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy is safe and effective at protecting infants, but there is debate about the best time for this vaccination to be offered. This study will randomise pregnant women to receive the whooping cough vaccine at one of three time points: <23+6 gestational weeks, 24-27+6 gestational weeks or 28-31+6 gestational weeks. All of these time points are within the window recommended for whooping cough vaccination in the UK (16-32 weeks).
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0050
Date of REC Opinion
5 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion