In Reply: Pertussis Immunization
1 Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical Center, 4200 E 9th Ave, Denver, CO 80262
I appreciate Dr Simon's thoughtful letter and his restatement of the need to constantly reevaluate current practices to provide an appropriate balance between risks and benefits. Our study was undertaken to provide further objective information on the reactogenicity of diphtheriapertussis-tetanus vaccine in the ongoing dialogue regarding pertussis vaccine.1 It is clear that reaction rates are but one small component of the controversy regarding this immunizing agent and that other investigators are focusing on improved vaccines for the prevention and control of pertussis.




