infant pertussis increasing in U.S. in 90s vs 80s

[BTox]

I can see the anti-vac kooks using this to say vaccines aren't effective, as vaccination rates increased during this time. Though the truth is the increase is being seen in infants 4m and less, whom are not adequately vaccinated, if at all.


jama pertussis trends 1980-1999 (http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/290/22/2968)

[reprise]

Originally posted by BTox
I can see the anti-vac kooks using this to say vaccines aren't effective, as vaccination rates increased during this time. Though the truth is the increase is being seen in infants 4m and less, whom are not adequately vaccinated, if at all.

jama pertussis trends 1980-1999 (http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/290/22/2968)

Part of the reason for the increase in infant rates of infection is thought to result from the incidence of adolescent and adult pertussis infection. The disease is generally mild in adolescents and adults and not even necessarily diagnosed during the critical period when it can be spread to infants who are not yet fully vaccinated. Some nations are looking at introducing pertussis booster shots for adolescents as it is known that the immunity provided by early childhood vaccination drops off significantly with time - something which doesn't significantly affect adolsecents and adults themselves but which makes them a potential source of infection to infants.

[BillHoyt]

Originally posted by reprise
Part of the reason for the increase in infant rates of infection is thought to result from the incidence of adolescent and adult pertussis infection.
Fair enough, but the question now becomes: why today, given that adolescent / adult boosters weren't part of the control program before? Recently, mutated Pertussis strains have been identified. Again, why now? The question should nag us, particularly since some important things have occurred over the past 30 years:

o A world-wide anti-pertussis vaccination scare began in the 70s, and has not stopped in many developed countries

o Vaccination rates dropped precipitously during this scare, with epidemics rapidly following

o In response to the scare, most governments switched from whole-cell pertussis vaccines to acellular vaccines

There's a good article on this topic in the latest Skeptical Inquirer. I may know the author.