SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF AN ACELLULAR PERTUSSIS-VACCINE IN SUBJECTS WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME

We evaluated the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of an acellular per tussis vaccine in 24 subjects affected by Down's syndrome and in 10 no rmal infants, Neither general nor local adverse reactions were observe d in either group of subjects. The new acellular vaccine administratio n elicited protective levels of antibodies in all the subjects with Do wn's syndrome, although the geometric mean titres of IgG antibodies ag ainst Bordetella pertussis in these subjects were significantly lower than in normal controls.