Pertussis booster vaccination and immediate hypersensitivity.

Twelve non-atopic and 27 atopic preschool children were studied to determine the effect of pertussis booster vaccination on cutaneous histamine sensitivity and IgE antibody response to the naturally-occurring ragweed aeroallergen. Prick tests of histamine and ragweed extract, as well as ragweed-RAST, were performed prior to, and after, their booster injections. Ragweed skin tests and RAST were not repeated until 2 weeks after the end of ragweed pollination. None of the parameters changed significantly in either group regardless of the type of immunization administered.