Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
08:52

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice

Published on: February 22, 2019

High effectiveness of infant vaccination against pertussis in 1- and 2-year-olds, the Netherlands, 2013-2024

Dimphey L van Meijeren1, Annika M van Roon1, Brechje de Gier1

  • 1Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720, BA, Bilthoven, the Netherlands.

Vaccine
|July 29, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Infant pertussis vaccination is highly effective, showing 98.2% vaccine effectiveness (VE) against pertussis up to 36 months. High vaccination uptake is crucial for protecting young children from this disease.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) remains a significant concern for young children, necessitating effective vaccination strategies.
  • Understanding the real-world vaccine effectiveness (VE) of infant immunization is critical for public health policy.
  • Changes in vaccine formulations and schedules (NIP period 1 vs. period 2) in the Netherlands warrant evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the full infant pertussis vaccination schedule.
  • To compare VE estimates derived from a case-control study versus the screening method.
  • To assess the impact of different national immunization program (NIP) periods on VE.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted with laboratory-confirmed pertussis cases aged 12-35 months (2013-2024) matched to four controls.
  • Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate stratum-specific odds ratios (ORs), with interaction terms for age group and NIP period.
  • Vaccine effectiveness was calculated as (1-OR)*100% and compared with estimates from the screening method.

Main Results:

  • The study included 1156 cases and 4624 controls; 89% of controls were fully vaccinated compared to 27% of cases.
  • The case-control study yielded an overall VE of 98.2% (95% CI: 97.6-98.6), indicating high protection.
  • VE showed a decline with increasing time since vaccination, with slightly greater waning in NIP period 1. Screening method estimates were comparable (96.4% VE).

Conclusions:

  • Full infant pertussis vaccination provides highly effective protection against pertussis up to 36 months of age.
  • Findings were consistent across both case-control and screening methods, reinforcing the reliability of the VE estimates.
  • High uptake of infant pertussis vaccination is essential for disease control and prevention in young children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Case-control studyInfant vaccinationPertussisScreening methodVaccine effectiveness

More Related Videos

A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments07:30

A Simple Approach to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Neuritis in C57BL/6 Mice for Functional and Neuropathological Assessments

Published on: November 9, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Smallpox01:24

Smallpox

Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
Vaccines01:21

Vaccines

Vaccines are among the most effective tools in preventive medicine, designed to prepare the immune system to recognize and combat infectious agents. By introducing antigens—substances that the immune system identifies as foreign—vaccines stimulate an adaptive immune response that leads to immunological memory. This immunological memory enables the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon future exposures to the actual pathogen.Vaccines can be categorized based on the type of...