title: Evidence of whooping-cough-vaccine efficacy from the 1978 whooping-cough epidemic in Hertfordshire.
abstract: The question of the efficacy of whooping-cough immunisation was central to the controversy that started in 1974. Definitive answers were not possible at the time because of the very low levels of whooping-cough in the preceding years and the absence of up-to-date information. The widespread abandonment of whooping-cough immunisation and the subsequent epidemic of whooping-cough have provided a natural epidemiological experiment. Figures from Hertfordshire in 1978 show that for children aged 4 years and under whooping-cough immunisation conferred 92% protection.
mesh_terms: D002662:Child Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004739:England; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D010567:Pertussis Vaccine