Abstract
The Task Force on Pertussis and Pertussis Immunization should be congratulated for a timely and thorough review of some difficult issues. Although the authors have done a commendable job in objectively presenting the controversial areas, they have unfortunately not maintained a clear distinction between protection from clinical disease (that which is recognized and notified) and protection from infection (all pertussis caused illness, much of which is "mild, often unrecognized disease". That the vaccine likely protects much more against clinical disease than infection has been well discussed by Fine and Clarkson.
The Task Force did acknowledge this distinction ("Control v Eradication"; however, they subsequently ignored it when they suggested that an adult dose "would reduce transmission of B pertussis in adults and could help in the eradication of pertussis in our population."
- Copyright © 1989 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
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