FDA clears vaccine to prevent whooping cough in newborns by giving shot to mother during pregnancy

Signage is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Maryland, August 29, 2020.

The FDA gave the go-ahead for the vaccine to be used in the third trimester of a pregnant woman's life.

The vaccine is a product of Glaxosmithkline. It is the first vaccine the FDA has approved to prevent a disease in young infants by giving the shot to their mothers while they are pregnant.

According to data evaluated by the FDA, the vaccine was effective in preventing the disease in newborns when given to mothers during the third trimester. There were no side effects on the pregnancies or babies.

Pain at the injection site is the most common side effect of the vaccine.

Pertussis is a respiratory disease that can cause serious health problems in infants. Babies younger than two months are not protected against the disease through the normal childhood vaccinations.

Women who are pregnant can get the vaccine to protect their babies. According to the FDA, most cases of hospitalization and death occur in infants less than two months old.

The FDA had previously approved the use of Boostrix to protect the mother against disease, but hadn't cleared it for the purpose of preventing whooping cough in newborn babies. The vaccine was first approved in 2005 to protect 10 to 18 year olds against the disease, and later for 19 and older.