Boosting understanding of pertussis outbreaks

Abstract

A central question in epidemiology is the extent to which vaccines provide indirect protection (herd immunity) to infectious diseases, in addition to directly protecting individuals. Such artificial immunity often matches with the strength of natural protection: Vaccines against infections with strong and long-lasting natural immunity, such as measles, often provide very durable and effective protection against both disease and transmission (1, 2). A more complex picture emerges with pertussis (whooping cough), which is caused by a bacterium, Bordetella pertussis. The disease burden arising from this serious childhood infection is still considerable in countries with low vaccination rates.