Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
Published on: February 22, 2019
Pertussis in infants: preventing deaths and hospitalisations in the very young
Nicholas Wood1, Helen E Quinn, Peter McIntyre
1National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (NCIRS), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. nicholw3@chw.edu.au
Insights
Infants under 6 months face severe pertussis (whooping cough) and are too young for vaccines. Strategies like adult, parental, and newborn vaccination aim to protect vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) poses a significant threat to infants under six months old.
- This age group experiences the highest rates and severity of pertussis, leading to hospitalization and death.
- Current vaccination schedules do not provide adequate protection for these very young infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current epidemiology of pertussis in Australia.
- To explore four potential prevention strategies for pertussis in infants under six months of age.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological review of pertussis in Australia.
- Analysis of four proposed infant pertussis prevention strategies.
Main Results:
- Pertussis remains a critical concern for unvaccinated infants.
- Four strategies are proposed: universal adolescent/adult vaccination, cocoon vaccination (immunizing those around the infant), early infant vaccination, and maternal vaccination.
Conclusions:
- Protecting infants under six months from pertussis requires targeted strategies.
- Maternal vaccination, cocooning, and early infant vaccination are key approaches to reduce infant pertussis morbidity and mortality.
Abstract:
Pertussis is a particular concern in infants under 6 months of age. They have the highest rates and severity of disease resulting in hospitalisation or death but are too young to be protected by current vaccination schedules. We outline the current epidemiology of pertussis in Australia and four potential strategies to prevent pertussis in the very young. First, universal adult and or adolescent vaccination; second, indirect protection of infants by immunisation of parents and possibly others in close contact with the newborn, such as grandparents and health-care workers; third, newborn and early infant vaccination (from birth to 1 month of age) and fourth maternal vaccination.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:51Vaccinations
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
01:29Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:24Smallpox