Severe pertussis in infants: estimated impact of first vaccine dose at 6 versus 8 weeks in australia

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2011 Feb;30(2):161-3. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181f43906.

Abstract

We estimated the potential benefits of advancing the first dose of pertussis vaccine for infants from 8 to 6 weeks of age, using Australian national disease databases. Infants had notification rates 3-fold greater than the general population and accounted for 52% of recorded hospitalizations. Infants 1 and 2 months of age had notification rates 3.5 times (95% CI: 2.7-4.5) higher than infants 3 to 11 months of age. Estimation of acceleration of the vaccine to 6 weeks of age reduced average notifications, hospitalizations, and hospital bed-days by 8%, 9%, and 12%, respectively, with larger reductions in an epidemic year.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Disease Notification / statistics & numerical data
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Immunization / methods*
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Pertussis Vaccine / administration & dosage*
  • Pertussis Vaccine / immunology*
  • Whooping Cough / epidemiology*
  • Whooping Cough / pathology*

Substances

  • Pertussis Vaccine