In plain words
Cocooning is a way of protecting a newborn from infection by making sure the people around her are vaccinated. Those people can include the mother, the partner, grandparents, and . A baby is too young for some vaccines, so the adults around her act as a shield. Public health guidance recommends flu and vaccines for household members. It may also recommend RSV protection for the mother during pregnancy, or for the baby. A mother may be asked about her household's vaccines at a visit. Her provider can share the current schedule for her family.
The deeper version
Cocooning refers to vaccination of household contacts and caregivers to reduce the risk of infection in infants too young to be fully immunized. The ACIP and the CDC recommend maternal in each pregnancy and influenza vaccination in season, with vaccination of household contacts for pertussis and influenza. The RSV recommendations include maternal vaccination between 32 and 36 weeks or infant monoclonal antibody in the first season. Evidence for pertussis cocooning is strongest for reducing infant disease from household transmission, with observational studies showing high effectiveness of maternal Tdap in reducing infant pertussis in the first months. Uptake among household contacts is often low, which limits the strategy in practice.
Where it comes up
- Vaccines: the baby's schedule and who around the babyBaby Basics
- Getting sick while postpartumPostpartum: Your Body
- Holidays, travel, and events with a newbornSupport, Home, and Village
- Visitors and boundariesSupport, Home, and Village
- Grandparents and in-lawsSupport, Home, and Village
- What to bring a new mother (if you're the friend)Support, Home, and Village
What mothers here say about cocooning
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Sources
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — Recommended adult and maternal immunization schedules, current year
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy and household contacts guidance