VACCINE, TULAREMIA

Fetal Risk Summary

Tularemia vaccine is a live, attenuated bacteria vaccine (1,2). Tularemia is a serious infectious disease occurring primarily in laboratory personnel, rabbit handlers, and forest workers (1). The risk to the fetus from the vaccine is unknown. One report described vaccination in a woman early in the 1st trimester with transplacental passage of antibodies (2,3). No adverse effects were observed in the term infant or at 1-year follow-up. Because tularemia is a severe disease, preexposure prophylaxis of indicated persons should occur regardless of pregnancy (1).

Breast Feeding Summary

No data are available.

References

1. Amstey MS. Vaccination in pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynaecol 1983;10:13–22.
2. Albrecht RC, Cefalo RC, O'Brien WF. Tularemia immunization in early pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1980;138:1226–7.
3. Linder N, Ohel G. In utero vaccination. Clin Perinatol 1994;21:663–74.