Anyaoltás

Anyaoltás is a Hungarian term that translates to "mother vaccine" or "maternal immunization." It refers to the practice of administering vaccines to pregnant women to protect both them and their infants from certain infectious diseases. The primary goal of maternal immunization is to induce protective antibodies in the mother, which can then be transferred across the placenta to the fetus, providing passive immunity to the newborn. This immunity is crucial as infants are particularly vulnerable to serious complications from preventable diseases during the first few months of life, when their own immune systems are still developing.

Commonly recommended maternal vaccines include those for influenza and pertussis (whooping cough). The influenza vaccine is typically recommended in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, as pregnant women are at a higher risk of severe illness from the flu. The pertussis vaccine is usually given in the third trimester, aiming to maximize antibody levels in the mother just before birth so that these antibodies can be passed to the baby. This provides protection to the infant until they are old enough to receive their own vaccinations. The safety and efficacy of these vaccines during pregnancy have been extensively studied and are generally considered safe and beneficial. Anyaoltás is an important public health strategy to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in infants.