Pertussis

Disease risk areas
Worldwide.

Transmission
Spread by droplet infection

Recommendations
Recommended in UK from 2 months of age. As with diphtheria, tetanus and polio, it can be given from 1 month which is the policy in many tropical countries where these diseases are very common.

Vaccination

Always confirm details with manufacturer's literature
Type: Killed
No of doses: 3(primary course)
Dosage: See literature
Route: Deep S/C or I/M
Full course: 2 months
1st interval: 1 month
2nd interval: 1 month
Length of protection: Prolonged
Boosters: Not normally given
Pertussis vaccine is normally given as part ofthe triple immunisation against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis. But monovalent pertussis vaccine may be given when the pertussis component has been left out of earlier 'triple' vaccination courses (3 doses given at monthly intervals)

Side effects
Swelling and redness at the injection site are common. Instances of fever,cyanosis and convulsions have been reported following DTP and DT vaccines. More severe neurological conditions have been reported following pertussis vaccination, but they cannot be reliably linked in order to estimate the true risk of complications due to the vaccine.
Neurological complications after whooping cough disease are considerably more common than after vaccine.

Contraindications
If the child is suffering from an acute febrile illness or has had a severe local or general reaction to a preceding dose. If in doubt as to whether or not to give pertussis vaccine, refer to the Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (Published by HMSO)-the "Green book".

Current note
11/05/94 Following the difficulties obtaining monovalent pertussis vaccine, (previously reported)the Departments of Health have now made available, through community pharmacies, the "acellular" monovalent vaccine previously only available direct from Merieux UK Ltd.