Pertussis Vaccine and Pertussis
January 8, 2019
The Question: Does the pertussis vaccine lessen the severity of the illness even when it doesn’t prevent it?
The Study: It’s well known that the pertussis vaccine doesn’t protect everyone who is immunized. However, the severity of the illness is lessened in those who are vaccinated and become ill with this disease. This study evaluated the over 48,000 cases of pertussis that occurred in the United States in 2012, comparing the severity of the disease’s symptoms in patients over three months old who were vaccinated and those who weren’t.
The Results: Three-quarters of the pertussis suffers were properly vaccinated. There was a 60% reduction in the odds of severe disease in the vaccinated patients compared to those with no or incomplete vaccination history.
Comment: Pertussis vaccination, even if not totally protective, lessens the severity of pertussis.
Read More: Clinical Infectious Diseases, 09/17