What is Tdap (whooping cough vaccine)?

Whooping cough is highly contagious and can be life-threatening for newborns. Non-live vaccines (Tdap, Covid, flu) or illness that you get in pregnancy help your body to make antibodies. Antibodies are what your body needs to fight off infection. They are small enough to pass in your blood through your placenta to gift to your baby. Antibodies can also pass through breastmilk. 

In these ways, your baby will be protected when they are born and vulnerable to infection because they have minimal immune system. Your own baby will be advised to get their first set of immunizations at month 2. All adults (partners, grandparents) should get the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, polio) should get a Tdap booster every 10 years. So check if your loved ones have gotten theirs too.