D Greco, S Salmaso, P Mastrantonio, M Giuliano, A E Tozzi, A Anemona, M L Ciofi degli Atti, A Giammanco, P Panei, W C Blackwelder, D L Klein, S G Wassilak
BACKGROUND: Concern about both safety and efficacy has made the use of whole-cell pertussis vaccines controversial. In some European countries, including Italy, the rate of vaccination against pertussis is low. METHODS: We conducted a double-blind trial in Italy in which infants were randomly assigned to vaccination at two, four, and six months of age with an acellular pertussis vaccine together with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DTP); a DTP vaccine containing whole-cell pertussis (manufactured by Connaught Laboratories); or diphtheria and tetanus toxoids without pertussis (DT)...
February 8, 1996: New England Journal of Medicine