Study: Whooping Cough Vaccine Protection Wanes Quickly
Researchers wanted to know why California was hit with outbreaks even though children were being vaccinated. They say it might be time to think about changing the way the vaccine is administered.
Los Angeles Times:
Why Did So Many California Kids Get Whooping Cough Despite Being Vaccinated?
When California had its biggest pertussis outbreak in more than half a century in 2010, the kids who fell most sick were 10- and 11-year-olds. That struck public health experts as odd. Children receive five doses of the vaccine that protects against the illness — also known as whooping cough — by the time they're 6, so that population should have been fully inoculated. (Karlamangla, 2/4)
KQED:
Whooping Cough ‘Booster’ Vaccine Protection Fades Quickly, Kaiser Study Shows
In the late 1990s, a new version of the whooping cough vaccine was introduced. The big benefit was that it had fewer side effects. But in the years since, evidence has been mounting that this newer vaccine loses its effectiveness — and fast. (Aliferis, 2/4)