Vaccination against pertussis in Latin American preterm and low-birth weight infants: experts opinion position for a neglected childhood age group

ABSTRACT

Background

Pertussis remains as one of the oldest leading vaccine-preventable diseases of childhood, despite many decades of primary vaccine doses’ and boosters’ implementation. Although the epidemiology is well understood in infants and children, premature babies and low-birth weight infants remain a special group where the disease incidence is unknown, severity of the disease is considerable, and specific vaccination recommendations are scarce.

Research design and methods

A retrospective review of the available evidence of pertussis vaccination in premature and low birth weight infants was analyzed from January 2000 to December 2022 in six selected countries: Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Panamá, Costa Rica, and Chile.

Results

Chile had reports of adverse effects associated with vaccination of premature infants with the pentavalent vaccine, and their rationale to switching to the hexavalent vaccine. Colombia had reports of the justification for the use of hexavalent vaccine in prematures in the Neonatal Units and Kangaroo Mother Programs throughout the country. Mexico had selected publications of the vaccination status in prematures and low-birth weight infants.

Conclusion

Despite its importance, increased morbidity, and highest risk of complications in premature babies, there is a paucity of information of vaccine recommendations and coverage rates among selected Latin American infants.

KEYWORDS:

• Bordetella pertussis
• prematurity
• premature baby
• vaccination
• Latin America

Declaration of interests

M Avila-Agüero has received honorariums as a speaker from Sanofi for pertussis-related conferences, and economic support from Sanofi and the Global Pertussis Initiative (GPI) to attend pertussis-related meetings. C Mariño has received honorariums as a speaker from Sanofi for pertussis-related conferences and economic support from Sanofi and the Global Pertussis Initiative (GPI) to attend pertussis-related meetings. J Pablo Torres has received honorariums as a speaker from Sanofi for pertussis-related conferences and economic support from Sanofi and the Global Pertussis Initiative (GPI) to attend pertussis-related meetings. R Ulloa-Gutierrez has received honorariums as a speaker from Sanofi, GSK for pertussis-related conferences and economic support from Sanofi and the Global Pertussis Initiative (GPI) to attend pertussis-related meetings. A Gentile has received honorariums as a speaker from Sanofi for pertussis-related conferences and economic support from Sanofi to attend pertussis-related meetings. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or material discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contribution statement

All authors have made a significant contribution to the work reported; all have written and substantially revised the article; all have agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted; all have reviewed and agreed on all versions of the article before submission, during revision, and the final version accepted for publication; all agree to take responsibility and be accountable for the contents of the article and to share responsibility to resolve any questions raised about the accuracy or integrity of the published work.

Acknowledgments

We thank Oscar Hidalgo, MD from the Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Médicas (IICIMED) in San José, Costa Rica for his logistical contribution to organize the group, receive the material and organize the meetings for this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was funded by Sanofi Aventis de Panamá S.A. as an expert review grant.