Whooping cough risk for unvaccinated children

Children who are not vaccinated against pertussis, which is commonly known as whooping cough, are far more likely to become infected with the disease, experts have claimed.

Scientists from the Kaiser Permanente Colorado's Institute for Health Research found that the chances of unvaccinated children contracting whooping cough are 23 times higher than those who are fully immunised.

Writing in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, lead author Jason Glanz said: "This study helps dispel one of the commonly held beliefs among vaccine-refusing parents: that their children are not at risk for vaccine preventable diseases.

"It also shows that the decision to refuse immunisations could have important ramifications for the health of the entire community. Based on our analysis, we found that one in ten additional whooping cough infections could have been prevented by immunisation."

A three-in-one vaccination for children called DTaP that protects against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus is the most commonly used method of preventing whooping cough.

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