PERTUSSIS VACCINE FOR
ADOLESCENTS
CAN WE AFFORD TO BE
COMPLACENT?
YASH PAUL
JAIPUR
25/8/2012
• Studies should be done on Indian children to
evaluate antibodies against Pertussis and
Diphtheria around 10 years of age to find if the
adolescents in India would need dT or the new
vaccine with Pertussis and Diphtheria
components in reduced quantity with normal
quantity of Tetanus toxoid be made available
• Paul Y, Marwah P. Immunization in
Adolescents.In: recent Advances in
Pediatrics,special volume 17, Adolescence eds
Gupte S, Bhave SY. Jaypee Brothers Medical
Publisher (P) Ltd, New Delhi 2006;356-370
• There is no reason to believe that the disease
burden of Pertussis is low in adolescents in
India: A safe and efficacious vaccine is available.
IAP therefore recommends offering Tdap
vaccine instead of Td/TT vaccine in all children/
adolescents who can afford to use the vaccine.
• IAP consensus Recommendations on
Immunization, 2008;IAPCOI. Indian Pediatr
2008;45: 635-648
Adolescents and young adults from economically
weaker section
• More prone to infection because of over
crowding
• Cannot afford Tdap
• Spread infection before developing signs and
symptoms
• Majority of ‘Domestic Helps’ come from this
section
• Neonates are susceptible to Pertussis infection
• Neonates cannot be administered DPT or DaPT
OPTIONS
• Tdap to pregnant women
• Acellular Pertussis vaccine to neonatesnot available in India
• Tdwp to adolescents and young adults.
• Safety for neonates, elderly population
also