Pertussis vaccine

Pertussis vaccine is a vaccine that protects against whooping cough. There are two main types: whole-cell vaccines and acellular vaccines. The whole-cell vaccine is about 78% effective while the acellular vaccine is 71–85% effective. The effectiveness of the vaccines appears to decrease by between 2 and 10% per year with a more rapid decrease with the acellular vaccines. Vaccinating during pregnancy may protect the baby. The vaccine is estimated to have saved over half a million lives in 2002.

The World Health Organization and Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommend all children be vaccinated for pertussis and that it be included in routine vaccinations. This includes for people who have HIV/AIDS. Three doses starting at six weeks of age are typically recommended in young children. Additional doses may be given to older children and adults. The vaccine is only available in combination with other vaccines.

The acellular vaccines are more commonly used in the developed world due to less side effects. Between 10 and 50% of people given the whole-cell vaccines develop redness at the injection site and fever. Febrile seizures and long periods of crying occur in less than 1% of people. With the acellular vaccines a brief period of non serious swelling of the arm may occur. Side effects with both types of vaccines, but especially the whole-cell vaccine, are less the younger the child. The whole-cell vaccines should not be used after six years of age. Serious long term neurological problems are not associated with either type.