Pertussis and the acellular vaccines

Morbidity and mortality from pertussis continue to be a problem worldwide, both because the organism is difficult to eradicate and because there is non-compliance with vaccination, often owing to concerns about side effects of the whole-cell vaccine. The new acellular vaccines have fewer side effects and appear to be efficacious, although costly. Some have been approved in other countries for use in infants and children, but none is yet available in Australia. Once they are introduced, careful surveillance will be needed to monitor any epidemiological changes.