Adverse Effects of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines

In 1986 the US Congress passed the National Childhood Vaccine Compensation Act. The following year the Vaccine Compensation Amendments of 1987 were passed. Part of these laws called for a review of scientific and other information related to adverse consequences of pertussis and rubella vaccines, and the Institute of Medicine was asked to conduct this review. The Institute established a committee to carry out the review and this book is the ensuing report. The committee reviewed the available literature on any relationships between pertussis vaccines and hemolytic anemia, hypsarrhythmia, infantile spasms, Reye's syndrome, peripheral mononeuropathy, deaths classified as sudden infant death syndrome, aseptic meningitis, juvenile diabetes, autism, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, anaphylaxis, erythema multiforme, Guillian-Barre syndrome, protracted inconsolable crying or screaming, thrombocytopenia, and shock-like states. The committee also reviewed the available literature related to rubella vaccines and radiculoneuritis, arthritis, and thrombocytopenic purpura. The book is organized in a logical manner. After