Acellular and Whole-Cell Pertussis Vaccines in Japan: Report of a Visit by US Scientists

Abstract

The report of the Public Health Service's Interagency Group to Monitor Vaccine Development, Production, and Usage published in this issue ofThe Journal 1 as well as the recent (Sept 22 to 24,1986) workshop on acellular pertussis vaccines in Bethesda, Md, sponsored by the same group, have provided valuable information about Japanese acellular pertussis vaccines. Using the data presented in the government report and at that workshop as well as in recent US studies 2-4 of a diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine (DTP) with a Japanese acellular pertussis component, we will review what could be expected if acellular pertussis vaccines were to replace whole-cell vaccines in the United States. The available data indicate that fever (both in frequency and degree) and other common systemic reactions such as fretfulness, anorexia, vomiting, and drowsiness will be less common with the use of acellular pertussis vaccines. Although local reactions of some