[The controversy concerning whooping cough vaccination (author's transl)].

The importance of the neurological complications of whooping cough vaccination has been greatly exaggerated. Their frequency may vary tenfold, depending on the authors. Most of the latter are mainly linked to age and are thus coincidences. Other etiologies may be responsible, as also may a receptive constitutional background, the vaccine then simply reveals a preexisting condition. Present whooping cough vaccines are efficacious as shown by the fall in morbidity curves and the large number of cases in unvaccinated subjects during epidemics. Whooping cough in infants remains a problem which can only be solved by vaccination. Primary vaccination should be carried out as early as possible, while strictly observing the contraindications. The poor absorption of whooping cough vaccines is in favour of their injection by the intramuscular route which is better tolerated. Other vaccines with less reaction and more immunogenic are being sought.