Immunisation: pertussis protection through pregnancy: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Immunisation: pertussis protection through pregnancy

Sample item

A mother at 30 weeks of pregnancy asks how her newborn can be protected from whooping cough in the first weeks, before infant vaccination begins. Which vaccine is recommended for her?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Tdap

Tdap given in the late second or third trimester boosts maternal pertussis IgG, which crosses the placenta and protects the infant until primary vaccination. Td contains no pertussis component. Measles-rubella is a live vaccine and is avoided in pregnancy.

Option by option

  • A. Measles-rubella vaccine

    MR is a live vaccine, contraindicated in pregnancy, and does not cover pertussis.

  • B. Oral polio vaccine

    OPV has no bearing on pertussis.

  • C. Tdap (correct)

    Correct. Tdap provides pertussis antibodies for transplacental transfer.

  • D. Td

    Td protects against tetanus and diphtheria but has no pertussis antigen.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is C, Tdap. Tdap given in the late second or third trimester boosts maternal pertussis IgG, which crosses the placenta and protects the infant until primary vaccination.

Why is "Measles-rubella vaccine" not the answer?

MR is a live vaccine, contraindicated in pregnancy, and does not cover pertussis.

Why is "Oral polio vaccine" not the answer?

OPV has no bearing on pertussis.

Why is "Td" not the answer?

Td protects against tetanus and diphtheria but has no pertussis antigen.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Immunisation: pertussis protection through pregnancy in Pediatrics. Td contains no pertussis component. Measles-rubella is a live vaccine and is avoided in pregnancy.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Immunisation: pertussis protection through pregnancy?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.