Public health management of pertussis in adults: Practical challenges and future strategies

• Published in: Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 2377904
• Main Authors: MacIntyre, C Raina, de Sousa, Jaime Correia, Heininger, Ulrich, Kardos, Peter, Konstantopoulos, Andreas, Middleton, Donald, Nolan, Terry, Papi, Alberto, Rendon, Adrian, Rizzo, Albert, Sampson, Kim, Sette, Alessandro, Sobczyk, Elizabeth, Tan, Tina, Weil-Olivier, Catherine, Weinberger, Birgit, Wilkinson, Tom, von König, Carl Heinz Wirsing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 31-12-2024
• Subjects: Adult; adults; Bordetella pertussis; comorbidities; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines - administration & dosage; Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines - immunology; disease burden; Humans; Pertussis Vaccine - administration & dosage; Pertussis Vaccine - immunology; Public Health; Public Health Administration - methods; Tdap vaccination; under-reporting; Vaccination; Whooping Cough - diagnosis; Whooping Cough - epidemiology; Whooping Cough - prevention & control; Tdap vaccination; under-reporting; Bordetella pertussis; disease burden; comorbidities; adults
• ISSN: 2164-5515; 2164-554X; 2164-554X
• DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2377904

A panel of 24 international experts met in July 2022 to discuss challenges associated with pertussis detection, monitoring, and vaccination in adults; conclusions from this meeting are presented. There has been a shift in the epidemiology of pertussis toward older children and adults. This shift has been attributed to the waning of infection- or vaccine-induced immunity, newer detection techniques causing detection bias, and possibly the replacement of whole-cell pertussis with acellular vaccines in high-income countries, which may lead to immunity waning more quickly. The burden of adult pertussis is still likely under-ascertained due to widespread under-recognition by healthcare professionals (HCPs), under-diagnosis, and under-reporting in this age group. Non-standardized testing guidance and varied case definitions have contributed to under-reporting. Key barriers to HCP engagement with the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine include low awareness, lack of time/funding, and lack of motivation due to low prioritization of Tdap.