Pertussis: a critical appraisal (2)

In 1997 a Health Council Committee produced a report entitled Pertussis a critical appraisal. This report was an initial response to the epidemic of whooping cough in 1996 and 1997. Possible explanations were discussed. Due to the fact that many children with the disease had a history of vaccination, special attention was given to the whole-cell vaccine against whooping cough. The intention was that the conclusions of this 1997 report should be reviewed after a given period of time. In this second report special attention is devoted to the efforts to modify the current whole-cell vaccine with a greater immunogenicity and to study the protection given by the vaccine. Introducing, again, revaccination against whooping cough at the age of four years is expected to have an important effect on the incidence of the disease and should be effected as soon as possible. In view of adverse reactions the Committee prefers an acellular vaccine for this revaccination. For the primary vaccination during the first year of life the development of a combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine should be given priority.