Is Universal Vaccination Against Pertussis Always Justified?

Neurological complications of pertussis inoculation

“…In the Medical Research Council trials published in 1956, convulsions in the first 72 hours after inoculation were reported with frequencies of 1 in 2500 in 1948-1951, and 1 in 4000 for 1951-1954; the report concluded that this frequency did not exceed the expected natural occurrence rate in the age groups under review-an assumption of dubious logicand dismissed as coincidental those occurring after 72 hours. Str0m (1960Str0m ( , 1967 investigated various encephalopathic complications (convulsions, 'shock', and meningism) occurring up to 7 days after inoculation in Swedish children and found 1 in 6000 in the period 1955-1958, and 1 in 3600 in 1950-1965. Str0m's papers aroused strong criticism, especially among his colleagues, one of the arguments being that Str0m did not exclude cases with pre-existing abnormalities and therefore overestimated both the frequency of complications and their sequelae. While this argument has some validity when estimating frequency and severity of sequelae, it should not be used to exclude immediate complications from consideration.…”

Epidemiologic Aspects And Diagnostic Criteria For A Protective Efficacy Field Trial Of A Pertussis Vaccine

“…The disease itself seemed to be under control at that time with a vaccination coverage of~80%. After Strom [11] questioned the need for pertussis vaccination in 1960, there was intensive discussion about possible severe side effects of DTP in West Germany in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This movement was further stimulated by data from Ehrengut [12], who estimated the frequency of severe neurologic damage after DTP vaccination at 1 in 20,000.…”

Flawed reports of immunization complications: consequences for child health

“…The consequences of the suspicion that a certain vaccine may have a marked negative impact can be seen in the attitude to particular immunizations. This was clearly demonstrated after a Swedish report from 1960 in which the pertussis vaccine, which was given together with vaccines against diphtheria and tetanus (so-called triple vaccine), was suspected not only of causing fever and seizures but, in some cases, also severe and permanent brain damage in 1 infant out of 6000 (4). In an additional study of the children who were reported to be brain damaged by the pertussis vaccination, some of them were found to have certain metabolic brain diseases such as Krabbe's disease.…”