title: The influence of preschool pertussis immunization on an epidemic of pertussis.
abstract: Between 1988 and 1989 there were 896 reported cases of pertussis in Arizona. Of the 781 investigated cases 55 were identified in children younger than 5 years of age. Thirty-five percent of children between 6 months and 5 years of age were not fully immunized; 3 infants died. Approximately 50% of infected children between 5 and 14 years of age had not received 5 doses of pertussis vaccine. Of the 413 physician respondents to a questionnaire, fully 10% do not administer pertussis vaccine to preschool children because of parental, personal or other reasons. We hypothesize that the reservoir of pertussis-susceptible older children and young adults is augmented by this omission of the fifth diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine. Newer educational and vaccine strategies are necessary to prevent epidemics of pertussis.
authors.affiliation: University of Arizona, Health Sciences Center, Department of Pediatrics, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ey
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buckett
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine