Increasing Pertussis and Influenza Vaccinations Rates Among Postpartum Women

Multiple organizations have recommended cocooning-vaccination of household contacts of infants' age less than 12 months-against influenza and pertussis, however logistical and financial barriers have precluded widespread implementation of cocooning at a national level. This project included postpartum mothers of infants admitted to the low risk nursery or NICU who were eligible to receive influenza vaccination and/or pertussis vaccination. Our goal was to increase maternal postpartum vaccination rates against influenza from 50% in November 2013 to 90% by March 2014 and against pertussis from less than 5% in November 2013 to 90% by May 2014. Our project had minimal impact on influenza vaccinations rates (decreased from 40 to 24%) but significant impact on pertussis vaccination rates (increased from <. 5% to 61%). This article describes the partially successful implementation of a postpartum cocooning program at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital (CMHH) in Houston, Texas.