Maternal Vaccination against COVID-19, Influenza, Pertussis, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Scoping Review

Pregnancy and early infancy are periods of heightened vulnerability, with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infections linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, and stillbirth. Maternal vaccination provides direct protection to mothers by active immunisation and to infants by passive immunisation. This scoping review mapped and described published literature on maternal vaccination against COVID-19, influenza, pertussis, and RSV, including which outcome domains were studied and the timing of vaccination examined, with the aim of identifying evidence gaps and supporting decision-makers in choosing priority areas for subsequent systematic review topics. A comprehensive literature search across multiple databases of studies published from January 2000 to October 2025 identified 636 publications (541 primary studies, 95 evidence syntheses). Studies on COVID-19 (261 studies, 45 reviews), influenza (161 studies, 29 reviews), pertussis (113 studies, 20 reviews), and RSV (20 studies, 11 reviews) were analysed. Substantial evidence on COVID-19, influenza, and pertussis vaccination on efficacy, effectiveness, safety and immunogenicity outcomes and the optimal timing of vaccination in relation to these outcomes during pregnancy is available. RSV vaccination evidence is limited. Updated systematic reviews would be helpful to clarify the optimal timing of COVID-19 vaccination and the effectiveness and safety of the coadministration of influenza and pertussis vaccines.