The VAX-MOM Study: Increasing Influenza and Tdap Vaccination of Pregnant Women

Infants under 6 months of age at increased risk of both influenza (flu) and pertussis disease, and pregnant women risk serious illness and premature labor from flu. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that women receive a flu vaccine in flu season, and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during each pregnancy (ideally between 27-36 weeks) to lower the risk for flu and pertussis disease for themselves and their infants. However, only half of pregnant women in the US receive a flu and Tdap vaccine, respectively; only 33% of women receive both vaccines. Lack of vaccination stems from a combination of patient (lack of knowledge, vaccine hesitancy), provider (suboptimal communication skills, missed opportunities), and system (e.g. lack of standing orders and patient reminders) factors. An effective intervention is needed to improve flu and Tdap vaccination rates for pregnant women. To address these low vaccination rates the investigators plan to use a clustered RCT (randomizing practices), allocating half of the participating practice sites within each health system to the VAX-MOM intervention and the other half to standard of care. The multi-component VAX-MOM intervention will be comprised of: training in communication, provider prompts, standing orders, and feedback on vaccination rates.