The risk of adverse birth outcomes among twin pregnancies after
influenza and pertussis vaccinations during pregnancy: a data linkage
study
Abstract
Objective: To compare risks of adverse birth outcomes between
maternally vaccinated and unvaccinated twin pregnancies. Design:
Multi-jurisdictional data linkage cohort study. Setting: We
examined all registered births in Queensland (Qld) and Northern
Territory (NT), Australia between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2017.
Population: Women carrying a multiple pregnancy ≥20 weeks
gestation and weighing ≥400g. Methods: We used Cox
proportional-hazard models to calculate risk, with maternal vaccination
status as the time-varying exposure, and national birthweight percentile
charts specific for Australian-born twins to accurately reflect risk
among small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Main Outcome
Measures: Adverse birth outcomes including stillbirth, preterm birth
and SGA infants. Results: Among our cohort of n=11,945 infants,
there was no statistically significant increased risk of preterm births,
stillbirths or SGA infants between women who received a maternal
influenza and/or pertussis vaccination and unvaccinated women. There was
a borderline reduced risk of SGA infants among Qld women who received
pertussis vaccination (aHR 0.82, 95% CI 0.68–1.00, p=0.051).
Conclusion: We provide evidence that maternal influenza and
pertussis vaccinations did not increase the risk of stillbirth, preterm
birth or SGA infants among women carrying a multiple pregnancy. These
novel and important findings alleviate ongoing safety concerns for a
cohort that carries a higher baseline risk of adverse birth outcomes
compared to singleton pregnancies. Keywords: maternal
vaccination; pertussis; influenza; twins; multiple pregnancy; safety