The influence of preschool pertussis immunization on an epidemic of pertussis

John L. Ey, Burris Duncan, Leslie L. Barton, Gary Buckett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Between 1988 and 1989 there were 896 reported cases of pertussis in Arizona. Of the 781 investigated cases 55 were identified in children younger than 5 years of age. Thirty-five percent of children between 6 months and 5 years of age were not fully immunized; 3 infants died. Approximately 50% of infected children between 5 and 14 years of age had not received 5 doses of pertussis vaccine. Of the 413 physician respondents to a questionnaire, fully 10% do not administer pertussis vaccine to preschool children because of parental, personal or other reasons. We hypothesize that the reservoir of pertussis-susceptible older children and young adults is augmented by this omission of the fifth diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine. Newer educational and vaccine strategies are necessary to prevent epidemics of pertussis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)576-578
Number of pages3
JournalPediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Volume10
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1991

Keywords

  • Epidemic pertussis
  • Pertussis
  • Pertussis immunization
  • Preschool diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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