The efficacy of whole cell pertussis immunisation: collected data on a vaccine produced in France

The place of whole cell pertussis vaccines in paediatric immunisation sched ules is under re-evaluation by public health authorities in many countries, with the expectation that the newly licensed acellular Bordetella pertussi s vaccines will induce fewer adverse events while providing equivalent effi cacy. In France, for instance, the CSHPF (Conseil superieur d'hygiene publi c de France) recently modified its long-standing recommendation that French children only receive whole cell pertussis vaccine. Consequently, an acell ular pertussis vaccine may be used for the first booster, at 16-18 months o f age, and should be used for the reinforcing dose at 11-13y of age. French children, nonetheless, continue to receive whole cell pertussis vaccine fo r the primary series immunisations at 2, 3, and 4 months, as the only whole cell pertussis vaccine available in France (licensed by Aventis Pasteur) h as a long-established record of safety and protective efficacy. A review of its unpublished and published clinical results, obtained from studies thro ughout the world, demonstrates an efficacy of from 84-100% in six different retrospective analyses or outbreak investigations and a protective efficac y of 92% by clinical trial.