Why isn’t pertussis vaccine given after 7 years of age?
There is no pertussis-containing vaccine licensed by the FDA for use in persons 7 years of age or older. The conclusion was basically that pertussis was not a problem in older children and adults. Now we know that is not true. We have no vaccine that is properly built for older children and adults. The current vaccine has a pediatric dose of diphtheria, which we would not want to give to older children and adults because it is more reactogenic than in children. What we need and may eventually have is a dTaP like they have in Canada and some other countries for use in older children and adults. Then we will have to figure out who is going to get it and how often.
Related Questions
- Is a single does of Tdap vaccine given in adolescence or adulthood expected to sustain pertussis immunity throughout a person’s life, or will additional doses of Tdap be required later?
- If a child received two doses of Hib vaccine and the second dose was given at 13 months of age, does the child need a third dose?
- Why isn’t pertussis vaccine given after 7 years of age?
