Canadian experience with implementation of an acellular pertussis vaccine booster-dose program in adolescents: implications for the United States.
BACKGROUND
In Canada, the epidemiology of pertussis has changed during the past decade such that more cases occur in adolescents than in any other age cohort.


METHODS
The implications of the Canadian experience, as well as the experiences of France, Germany, and Australia, on the universal implementation of an acellular pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus booster vaccine in the United States are discussed.


RESULTS
In 1999, an acellular pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids formulated for adolescents and adults was licensed for use in Canada. It has taken >5 years for this vaccine to be introduced universally into the immunization programs of all provinces and territories. The delay in implementation has likely been the result of insufficient epidemiologic data available to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the lack of a consensus on the appropriate goals of the national pertussis control strategy. Implementation of an immunization program in all parts of the country occurred only after a national consensus was achieved and federal funding was made available for vaccine purchase.


CONCLUSIONS
The Canadian experience demonstrates that an adolescent pertussis vaccine program can be implemented on a national scale after several factors have been considered.
Halperin
Scott A
SA
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 6R8, Canada. scott.halperin@dal.ca
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003245:Consensus Statements as Topic; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D017277:Drug Approval; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D015994:Incidence; D009313:National Health Programs; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines