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Pertussis immunization in eight-month-old children in North Carolina
D A Clements1, C M Wilfert, J N MacCormack
1University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599.
Insights
Pertussis cases in North Carolina tripled between 1984-1987. Low pertussis immunization rates, with only 58% of infants receiving DTP vaccines, likely contributed to this rise.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Immunization Practices
Background:
- Reported pertussis cases in North Carolina increased threefold between 1984 and 1987.
- Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine pertussis immunization rates in North Carolina during a period of increasing pertussis cases.
- To assess the relationship between immunization coverage and pertussis incidence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of pertussis immunization rates using three one-year cohorts from North Carolina birth records (1984-1987).
- Review of immunization status for 117 reported pertussis cases in children aged 9-36 months over a 10-year period.
Main Results:
- Immunization rates with three doses of DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) at eight months of age were consistently low, ranging from 56.7% to 58.6%.
- Only 20.5% of children aged 9-36 months with reported pertussis cases were adequately immunized.
Conclusions:
- Low pertussis immunization coverage in North Carolina may be a significant factor contributing to the observed increase in pertussis cases.
- Public health strategies to improve DTP vaccination rates are crucial for controlling pertussis outbreaks.
Abstract:
Between 1984 and 1987 reported pertussis cases in North Carolina increased threefold. Pertussis immunization rates were examined for those years in three one-year cohorts drawn from a random selection of North Carolina birth records. The percentage of children immunized with three DTPs at eight months of age was 58.1, 58.6, and 56.7 for the three cohorts. Only 20.5 percent of 117 reported pertussis cases in children 9-36 months of age during the last 10 years were adequately immunized. The low pertussis immunization rate may have contributed to the recent increase in pertussis cases in North Carolina.