| Summary: | The rate of mortality in children associated with serious infectious diseases is significantly higher in the developing world and in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations in developed industrialized countries. The reasons underpinning the higher incidence of whooping cough (pertussis) in these populations include overcrowding and poor hygiene, poor coverage with available pertussis containing vaccines and waning immunity following immunisation and infection. Two types of vaccines are currently used for vaccinating infants and children. The whole cell pertussis vaccine, the most used vaccine worldwide, consisting of a killed B pertussis strain, origin of which may differ in different countries, is generally given in combination with chemically or genetically inactivated diphtheria and tetanus toxoids [DTwP or DTPw], with or without combination with Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib], hepatitis B or inactivated polio virus vaccine [IPV], depending upon the vaccine manufacturer.
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