Decade may be more than half over before acellular pertussis vaccines arrive on scene
Article Abstract:
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is caused by infection with the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, and is characterized by sudden, peculiar coughing which ends in a whooping sound when breathing in. The pertussis vaccine activates the immune system to produce antibodies against B. pertussis. The acellular form of the pertussis vaccine contains only purified portions of B. pertussis, whereas whole-cell vaccines consist of chemically inactivated whole cells of the bacterium. Whole-cell vaccines are approved for use but acellular vaccines are still under investigation. Acellular vaccines have been shown to cause fewer abnormal reactions than whole-cell pertussis vaccines and they also produce long-term immunity. However, the effectiveness and safety of acellular vaccines have not been compared with that of whole-cell vaccines. Hence, the acellular vaccines may not be available for use until the mid-1990s. One company has applied for a license to market their acellular pertussis vaccine for use as a booster in children 15 months or older. In a British study comparing three types of acellular vaccines, the vaccines caused an increase in rectal temperature in only a small percentage of the vaccinated patients and low rates of local reactions at the injection site. For comparison studies, American investigators must select the types of antigens, or immune-activating elements, to be tested. Various antigens are available in different combinations in the more than a dozen types of acellular pertussis vaccines. A Scandinavian study showed that vaccines containing two types of antigens, the pertussis toxin and fimbrial hemagglutinin, protected against mild disease with an effectiveness of 82 percent. The evidence suggests that pertussis is a mild disease in adults and adolescents, but it can be severe in the very young. Hence, adults should also receive the pertussis vaccine. Improved methods of administering the vaccines, such as by mouth, and prevention of infection and disease will help to control and possibly eliminate pertussis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1990
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Acellular pertussis vaccine scores high in trial
Article Abstract:
A new pertussis vaccine has been proven safe and effective in Swedish clinical trials. This acellular vaccine against the bacterium that causes whooping cough contains a detoxified form of the bacterial toxin. The vaccine was 70% effective among 3,450 children and it caused no major side effects. The children were assigned to a control group or a vaccinated group. The controls received diphtheria-tetanus (DT). The vaccinated group received the new pertussis toxoid vaccine and DT at 3,5 and 12 months of age. Seventy-two of the children who received the acellular vaccine and 240 of the children who received the DT vaccine became infected with pertussis. The disease was much milder among children in the vaccinated group who contracted pertussis. Whoops were reduced, along with vomiting, temperature and skin reactions at the vaccination location.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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Acellular pertussis vaccine hailed for infants
Article Abstract:
A new acellular pertussis vaccine appears to be more effective and cause fewer side effects than the whole-cell pertussis vaccine. Acellular vaccines only contain part of the infectious organism, whereas whole-cell vaccines use an inactive form of the entire organism. The standard pertussis combination vaccine immunizes children against diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis. A Swedish study of 9,630 infants and an Italian study of 14,832 infants revealed that acellular vaccines were much more effective than whole-cell vaccine. Acellular vaccines for children await licensure in the U.S.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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