Pertussis booster vaccine in China

Abstract

Vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) has achieved great success in infants and younger children in China. However, pertussis booster vaccination in older children, adolescents, and adults has received more attention lately due to the waning immunity that is observed following immunization and, as a result, a resurgence of pertussis in these populations. Under the current national childhood immunization program in China, children will not receive a pertussis booster dose after 2 years of age. Recently, a reduced antigen content diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis combined vaccine (dTpa) was licensed in China and has been used as the booster dose to children aged 6-12 years. The preferred strategy for pertussis booster vaccination in China would be to substitute dTpa vaccine for the currently recommended combined diphtheria and tetanus vaccine at 6 years of age; however, the availability and accessibility of the dTpa vaccine in China are limited due to insufficient supply and high price. In addition, development of a dTpa vaccine that can be used to vaccinate children aged 13 years or greater is urgently needed.