Apropos "Incorporating immunizations into routine obstetric care to facilitate health care practitioners in implementing maternal immunization recommendations"

Commentary on "Moniz and Beigi's maternal immunization: clinical experiences, challenges, and opportunities in vaccine acceptance"

Maternal immunization faces an array of structural, sociocultural, and individual challenges that must be effectively addressed to realize widespread improvements in vaccination uptake. As Moniz and Beigi correctly detail in their review, immunization during this period offers unique opportunity to make substantial improvements in maternal and neonatal health. Moving beyond the existing Health Belief Model, we learn that immunization uptake can be significantly improved by shaping messages, addressing logistical challenges such as out-of-pocket (i.e., "copay") barriers, and delivering provider education on maternal immunization to encourage future provider recommendations and facilitate the patient convenience of in-office vaccine administration. The resulting approach of "Educate, Recommend, Normalize, Maximize Convenience" is consistent with the evidence on maternal immunization. In its systematic application, such a model may usher in unprecedented opportunity to improve immunization uptake in decades ahead.