Pertussis Vaccines and Vaccination Strategies. An Ever-Challenging Health Problem

Abstract

Vaccines and vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough) have had one of the longest and most complex history, with alternating splendour and public disbelief, enthusiasm and concerns, overall resulting in changes in composition and replacement of vaccines, and associated vaccination strategies, including use of different vaccines in different countries, with no apparent equals for other bacterial vaccines. Of this both frustrating and exciting venue no end has been reached. In this note, I am shortly recapitulating the history of pertussis vaccines, from the inactivated, whole-cell vaccine to the acellular ones, with their merits and limitations, particularly concerning the debated issue of waning immunity, and a glimpse on a new vaccine proposal. Some reflections on the complexity and apparent peculiarity of this field are also made to the final scope of discussing aspects of the evolving strategies of disease control in a high-income country.