The old whole-cell whooping cough vaccine (what I got as a kid, decades ago) did not provide long-lasting immunity. It was given only to children up to their 6-year vaccines, because they get a far more severe disease than adults. The acellular vaccine now used, again was given only to kids until recently when they found that the immunity also wears off. Except the acellular vaccine does not cause much reaction, and they found that vaccinating adults would also protect babies under 2 months of age.
Another theory is that the pertussis bacteria are becoming resistant to the acellular vaccine.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-11-17 02:30 am (UTC)Another theory is that the pertussis bacteria are becoming resistant to the acellular vaccine.