Pertussis vaccine
Pertussis Vaccine
The Pertussis Vaccine (/pərˈtʊsɪs/), also known as the whooping cough vaccine, is a vaccine used to prevent pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Etymology
The term "pertussis" comes from the Latin pertussis, meaning "violent cough". The vaccine is often referred to as the "whooping cough vaccine" due to the characteristic "whoop" sound made when a person with pertussis tries to take a breath.
Types of Pertussis Vaccines
There are two types of pertussis vaccines: the whole-cell vaccine (wP) and the acellular vaccine (aP). The whole-cell vaccine is made from a whole cell of B. pertussis that has been inactivated, while the acellular vaccine contains only parts of the B. pertussis bacterium.
Whole-Cell Vaccine (wP)
The whole-cell pertussis vaccine (wP) was the first type of pertussis vaccine developed. It is made from whole cells of B. pertussis that have been inactivated, or killed, so they cannot cause disease.
Acellular Vaccine (aP)
The acellular pertussis vaccine (aP) is made from parts of the B. pertussis bacterium. It was developed to reduce the side effects associated with the whole-cell vaccine.
Vaccination Schedule
The pertussis vaccine is typically given in combination with vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus, in a shot known as the DTaP vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive the DTaP vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years of age.
Side Effects
Like all vaccines, the pertussis vaccine can cause side effects. Common side effects include fever, irritability, and redness or swelling at the injection site. Serious side effects are rare.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pertussis vaccine
- Wikipedia's article - Pertussis vaccine
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