Protection against pertussis by Takeda's acellular pertussis vaccine: household contact studies in Kawasaki City, Japan.

To evaluate the vaccine efficacy of an acellular pertussis vaccine which has been in clinical use in Japan since 1981, a retrospective study was performed by a questionnaire survey of secondary pertussis attacks through family contact in 146 children with pertussis diagnosed in the period from January 1981 through May 1988. In this study, Takeda's acellular vaccine which contains a high level of FHA, low level of PT and a small amount of agglutinogen, was evaluated. Secondary pertussis attacks through family contact were found in 17 of 27 siblings (62.9%) not immunized with pertussis vaccine. On the other hand, 26 siblings immunized with Takeda's acellular vaccine were exposed to pertussis through family contact and a secondary attack was seen in only one of them (3.8%). The present study revealed an efficacy rate of 93.9% for Takeda's acellular pertussis vaccine.