Na. Halsey et al., THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERTUSSIS-VACCINE AND CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEMSEQUELAE - CONTINUING ASSESSMENT, Pediatrics, 97(2), 1996, pp. 279-281
Reassessment of the role of whole-cell pertussis vaccine as a cause of
permanent neurologic damage is necessitated by the 10-year follow-up
of the National Childhood Encephalopathy Study (NCES) in Great Britain
. The findings of this study demonstrate that infants and young childr
en with serious acute neurologic disorders are at an increased risk of
later neurologic impairment or death, irrespective of the initial pre
cipitating event. The results, however, do not establish a causal rela
tionship between pertussis vaccination and chronic neurologic abnormal
ities. The Academy reaffirms its earlier conclusion that whole-cell pe
rtussis vaccine has not been proven to be a cause of brain damage and
continues to recommend pertussis vaccination in accordance with the gu
idelines in the 1994 Red Book.(1)