Recent tosferina outbreaks highlight vaccination importance; maternal immunization protects infants.
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In Spain, before the widespread use of PCR technology, diagnosing pertussis required collecting samples from a child’s cough and sending them to microbiology because the bacteria is difficult to culture. Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, is known for its severe, prolonged coughing fits, sometimes lasting months. Spain has seen a significant rise in pertussis cases in 2024 compared to previous years. Experts state that these increases are cyclical and normal, occurring every few years, emphasizing the importance of vaccination. Historically, before vaccines in the 1950s, pertussis could be fatal in infants. Two types of vaccines exist; the current acellular vaccine causes fewer reactions than the first type developed. Spain has high childhood vaccination rates, with most children protected by hexavalent vaccines. The incidence of pertussis is dependent on population immunity through vaccination. Pediatricians in primary care are considered key to high vaccination coverage in Spain. Vaccination of pregnant women significantly reduces hospitalizations in infants under three months old because these babies are often unprotected until later vaccine doses. While some European countries have implemented maternal vaccination programs, others like Bulgaria show severe outbreaks when this is not part of the mandatory schedule. Concerns about declining childhood immunization rates due to vaccine hesitancy exist in some countries following the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, experts recommend booster shots in adolescence because current pertussis vaccines do not provide lifelong protection.
