Does Missing or Delaying Doses of DTaP Vaccine Increase Pertussis Risk?

DTaP undervaccination raised risk for pertussis, but short delays did not (as long as the total recommended doses were given).

Questions remain about children's level of protection when diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine doses are delayed or incomplete. In a 10-year study of data from 316,404 children (age range, 3 months–9 years) in the King County, Washington health and immunization database, researchers assessed risk for pertussis infection and found the following:

Among all children, 6% had no DTaP vaccinations, 37% had ≥1 delay, and 57% were fully vaccinated on time.
Of 402 pertussis cases, 29% occurred in unvaccinated, 37% in delayed, and 34% in fully vaccinated children.
Compared with pertussis risk in children having timely complete vaccination, risk was higher in those with missing or delayed doses (adjusted relative risk, 4.8 [age ra…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

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Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

Does Missing or Delaying Doses of DTaP Vaccine Increase Pertussis Risk?

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Reviewing Author