Report: Canadian Research Priorities for Pertussis Immunization in Pregnancy Survey

Pertussis immunization in pregnancy is currently thought to be the most effective way of protecting young infants (<3 months of age) against pertussis, in conjunction with an immunization program for children. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended pertussis immunization for all pregnant women in Canada during every pregnancy. The PIPER (Progressing Immunization in Pregnancy Evaluation and Research) Group was established to bring together individuals with expertise and/or interest in this area and to develop a cohesive roadmap for evaluation and research on immunization in pregnancy in Canada.

At a PIPER workshop in May 2017 attended by 34 immunization experts across Canada, 39 specific evidence gaps around pertussis immunization in pregnancy were identified by consensus. To help prioritize these gaps for future research, a survey was sent to diverse Canadian immunization research and evaluation stakeholders inclusive of those that attended the workshop. These stakeholders were researchers (e.g., scientists, clinician-scientists), decision makers (e.g., provincial and local policy makers), end users (e.g, program managers, physicians, midwives) and funders (including industry and non-industry funders).