Association Between Undervaccination With Diphtheria, Tetanus Toxoids, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine and Risk of Pertussis Infection in Children 3 to 36 Months of Age

Abstract

Children who are not age-appropriately vaccinated according to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are considered undervaccinated.¹ A recent longitudinal study showed that the rate of undervaccination increased significantly among a cohort of insured children born between 2004 and 2008 in the United States.² There are numerous potential reasons for undervaccination, including parental choice, missed opportunities, barriers to health care, and medical contraindication to vaccination.^3-6 Amid the recent pertussis epidemics across the United States, undervaccination is a concerning trend that potentially places children at increased risk for serious infection. For the present study, we examined the association between undervaccination and the risk of pertussis in children 3 to 36 months of age.