Description
Although systematic vaccination with whole cell pertussis vaccines has greatly contributed to controlling the disease, the reactions observed in children after vaccination have become an increasingly serious problem. The demand for a safer and more effective vaccine against whooping cough led to the development of a novel acellular vaccine in Japan in 1980 and subsequently to other types of non-reactive vaccine products. This publication reviews the results of the laboratory and clinical studies of acellular pertussis vaccines currently under trial. It also evaluates what needs to be done to resolve the uncertainties that still hamper the licensure of acellular vaccines outside Japan.
