What immunization is recommended during pregnancy to prevent whooping cough in newborns?

The recommended immunization during pregnancy to prevent whooping cough in newborns is the Tdap vaccine. This vaccine is important because it protects both the mother and the infant from pertussis, also known as whooping cough, which can be particularly dangerous for young infants.

Administering the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, specifically between 27 and 36 weeks gestation, helps ensure that the mother develops antibodies to the bacteria that cause pertussis. These antibodies can then be transferred to the fetus, providing the newborn with some level of passive immunity before they can receive their own vaccinations. This is vital since infants are at higher risk of severe complications from whooping cough, and they do not receive their first dose of the pertussis vaccine until they are two months old.

Other vaccines mentioned, such as the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines, are contraindicated during pregnancy or not specifically targeted to protect newborns from whooping cough. The influenza vaccine is recommended during pregnancy for maternal and fetal health but does not provide protection against whooping cough. Hence, the Tdap vaccine stands out as the specific immunization needed in this context.