Effects of Pertussis Vaccination on Disease: Vaccine Efficacy in Reducing Clinical Severity

We estimated the effectiveness of pertussis vaccination in reducing the clinical severity of breakthrough disease among vaccinated individuals from a comprehensive follow-up study of a community of 30,000 residents of Niakhar, Senegal, in 1993. A physician examined all children with potential pertussis (cough of >7 days' duration). Samples were collected from 97% of these children for culture or serologic testing as part of the active surveillance for a pertussis vaccine trial. Cases of pertussis were defined by confirmation through culture or serologic testing or by a history of contact with a person with culture-confirmed pertussis. Among children with confirmed cases, severity of illness was assessed according to a scale that combined clinical signs and symptoms. The efficacy of the vaccine in reducing disease severity was 48% (95% confidence interval, 39%-55%) among children vaccinated with 3 doses of whole-cell (67%) or acellular (32%) vaccine. Primary cases were more severe than secondary cases in residential compounds. Pertussis vaccination is effective in reducing the severity of illness.