[Who is it necessary to vaccine against whooping-cough?]

D Pinquier1, C Dumesnil, S Galène-Gromez

  • 1Service de pédiatrie néonatale et réanimation, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, CHU de Rouen, 1, rue de Germont, 76031 Rouen, France. didier.pinquier@chu-rouen.fr

Insights

Whooping cough (pertussis) remains common in teens and adults due to waning immunity. Reinforcing vaccination schedules for all age groups is crucial to protect infants from this dangerous disease.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology

Context:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) persists despite widespread infant vaccination.
  • Partial immunization leads to frequent infections in adolescents and adults.
  • Undiagnosed cases facilitate Bordetella pertussis circulation, endangering unvaccinated infants.

Purpose:

  • To highlight the ongoing pertussis challenge in partially immunized populations.
  • To advocate for enhanced vaccination strategies to control Bordetella pertussis spread.
  • To emphasize the need for updated vaccination schedules across all age groups.

Summary:

  • Whooping cough remains prevalent in adolescents and adults due to waning immunity.
  • Reinforcing booster vaccinations in preadolescents, teenagers, and adults is essential.
  • Protecting infants requires vaccinating their families and healthcare providers.

Impact:

  • Increased vaccine uptake in adolescents and adults can reduce pertussis transmission.
  • Strengthening herd immunity will better protect vulnerable infants.
  • Revised vaccination protocols aim to decrease infant mortality associated with pertussis.

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