DTaP acellular pertussis combination vaccine data

A vaccine containing the same antigenic components as those found in the DTP booster available in the U.S. for older children was shown to be effective, with fewer side effects, in a German trial in children 15 months or younger.

As reported at the International Symposium on Pertussis Vaccine Trials in Rome, efficacy of the acellular vaccine was 82 percent, adjusted for group differences, while efficacy of the whole cell DTP vaccine was 91 percent, similarly adjusted. But infants in the DTaP arm had a lower rate of systemic and local reactions than those in the whole cell pertussis group. ...