Waning Vaccine Protection Linked to Pertussis Resurgence

The incidence of pertussis in the United States has resurged to levels not seen since the 1950s and may be attributable to waning vaccine protection, according to new research.

In a study of pertussis infections that occurred between 1990 and 2005, Matthieu Domenech de Cellès of Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, and colleagues investigated various possible causes of this resurgence.
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Potential causes of US pertussis resurgence, which included the switch to the acellular vaccine and potential vaccine failure, were compared with 16 years of data from the Massachusetts pertussis outbreaks.

The researchers ultimately found that the surging rates of infection are likely due to incomplete historical coverage with an imperfect vaccine that provides gradually waning immunity.

Notably, they found that routine vaccination alone, which can effectively reduce transmission of pertussis, is insufficient for the overall eradication of the infection.

In their conclusion, the researchers emphasized that efforts for reducing pertussis transmission should be geared toward schoolchildren and vulnerable infants, since these populations are likely the core transmission groups.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

de Cellès MD, Magpantay FMG, King AA, Rohani P. The impact of past vaccination coverage and immunity on pertussis resurgence [Published online March 28, 2018]. Sci Translational Med. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.aaj1748.