TY - JOUR
T1 - Rationale for pertussis booster vaccination throughout life in Europe
AU - Zepp, Fred
AU - Heininger, Ulrich
AU - Mertsola, Jussi
AU - Bernatowska, Ewa
AU - Guiso, Nicole
AU - Roord, John
AU - Tozzi, Alberto E.
AU - Van Damme, Pierre
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - Although the introduction of universal pertussis immunisation in infants has greatly reduced the number of reported cases in infants and young children, disease incidence has been increasing in adolescents and adults in recent years. This changing epidemiological pattern is probably largely attributable to waning immunity after natural infection or vaccination. Furthermore, improved diagnostic testing, active surveillance, changes in disease susceptibility, vaccine characteristics, and increased awareness of the disease might also be contributing factors. Susceptibility to pertussis in adolescents and adults results not only in direct morbidity in these age groups, but also poses a transmission risk to susceptible non-immune infants who are often too young to be vaccinated. Because vaccination schedules vary across Europe, we review the pertussis situation in this region and propose considerations for use of pertussis booster vaccinations at different ages to reduce individual morbidity and transmission from present rates and increase herd protection.
AB - Although the introduction of universal pertussis immunisation in infants has greatly reduced the number of reported cases in infants and young children, disease incidence has been increasing in adolescents and adults in recent years. This changing epidemiological pattern is probably largely attributable to waning immunity after natural infection or vaccination. Furthermore, improved diagnostic testing, active surveillance, changes in disease susceptibility, vaccine characteristics, and increased awareness of the disease might also be contributing factors. Susceptibility to pertussis in adolescents and adults results not only in direct morbidity in these age groups, but also poses a transmission risk to susceptible non-immune infants who are often too young to be vaccinated. Because vaccination schedules vary across Europe, we review the pertussis situation in this region and propose considerations for use of pertussis booster vaccinations at different ages to reduce individual morbidity and transmission from present rates and increase herd protection.
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U2 - 10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70007-X
DO - 10.1016/S1473-3099(11)70007-X
M3 - Article
C2 - 21600850
AN - SCOPUS:79959301243
VL - 11
SP - 557
EP - 570
JO - The Lancet Infectious Diseases
JF - The Lancet Infectious Diseases
SN - 1473-3099
IS - 7
ER -