Pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country-wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in Panama

Despite high pediatric vaccination coverage rates (VCRs), pertussis incidence has increased worldwide, including in several countries in Latin America in the last two decades. Given the few vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies in Latin American countries, this retrospective, observational, cohort stud...

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Main Authors: Arlene E. Calvo, Andrea G. Tristán Urrutia, Juan C. Vargas-Zambrano, Humberto López Castillo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2389577
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author Arlene E. Calvo
Andrea G. Tristán Urrutia
Juan C. Vargas-Zambrano
Humberto López Castillo
author_facet Arlene E. Calvo
Andrea G. Tristán Urrutia
Juan C. Vargas-Zambrano
Humberto López Castillo
author_sort Arlene E. Calvo
collection DOAJ
description Despite high pediatric vaccination coverage rates (VCRs), pertussis incidence has increased worldwide, including in several countries in Latin America in the last two decades. Given the few vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies in Latin American countries, this retrospective, observational, cohort study estimated the effectiveness of hexavalent acellular (aP) primary and booster vaccination (wP) against pertussis in infants (6.5–18.5 months) and children (18.5–48.5 and 48.5–72.5 months) in Panama. Age-specific incidence rates (IRs) were calculated for the vaccine’s pre-initiation (2001–2013), initiation (2014), and post-initiation (2015–2019) periods. VCRs and trends were determined, and VE was analyzed using a case coverage or screening method to compare proportions of vaccinated cases and vaccinated individuals in the population. Between 2001–2019, 868 confirmed pertussis cases were reported in Panama; 712 (82.0%; 54.8 cases/year) during the pre-initiation period, 19 (2.2%; 19 cases/year) during the initiation period, and 137 (15.8%; 27.4 cases/year) during the post-initiation period. Panama underwent cyclical increases in IRs, which varied between age groups. VCRs increased for primary and booster doses. Between 2015 and 2019, third-dose yearly vaccine coverage increased, on average, 3.3%. Specifically, during the post-initiation period, 109/137 (79.6%) of cases were unvaccinated. Relative VE was estimated at 96.2% [95% CI: 86.5%, 98.9%] with three doses; 100% with 4 and 5 booster doses. Absolute VE was estimated at 99.3% with three doses only. These results show that vaccination played an important role in maintaining a low number of pertussis cases in Panama, affirming the need for sustained investment and commitment to vaccination programs.
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spelling doaj-art-e6d2387103534ca88871f903fcacfa0f2025-08-20T02:16:46ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2024-12-0120110.1080/21645515.2024.2389577Pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country-wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in PanamaArlene E. Calvo0Andrea G. Tristán Urrutia1Juan C. Vargas-Zambrano2Humberto López Castillo3College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Panama Program at City of Knowledge, Tampa, FL, USARollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USAGlobal Medical Vaccines, Sanofi, Lyon, FranceDepartment of Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Sciences, Academic Health Sciences Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USADespite high pediatric vaccination coverage rates (VCRs), pertussis incidence has increased worldwide, including in several countries in Latin America in the last two decades. Given the few vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies in Latin American countries, this retrospective, observational, cohort study estimated the effectiveness of hexavalent acellular (aP) primary and booster vaccination (wP) against pertussis in infants (6.5–18.5 months) and children (18.5–48.5 and 48.5–72.5 months) in Panama. Age-specific incidence rates (IRs) were calculated for the vaccine’s pre-initiation (2001–2013), initiation (2014), and post-initiation (2015–2019) periods. VCRs and trends were determined, and VE was analyzed using a case coverage or screening method to compare proportions of vaccinated cases and vaccinated individuals in the population. Between 2001–2019, 868 confirmed pertussis cases were reported in Panama; 712 (82.0%; 54.8 cases/year) during the pre-initiation period, 19 (2.2%; 19 cases/year) during the initiation period, and 137 (15.8%; 27.4 cases/year) during the post-initiation period. Panama underwent cyclical increases in IRs, which varied between age groups. VCRs increased for primary and booster doses. Between 2015 and 2019, third-dose yearly vaccine coverage increased, on average, 3.3%. Specifically, during the post-initiation period, 109/137 (79.6%) of cases were unvaccinated. Relative VE was estimated at 96.2% [95% CI: 86.5%, 98.9%] with three doses; 100% with 4 and 5 booster doses. Absolute VE was estimated at 99.3% with three doses only. These results show that vaccination played an important role in maintaining a low number of pertussis cases in Panama, affirming the need for sustained investment and commitment to vaccination programs.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2389577Pertussishexavalent vaccinevaccine efficacyPanamauniversal vaccine coverage
spellingShingle Arlene E. Calvo
Andrea G. Tristán Urrutia
Juan C. Vargas-Zambrano
Humberto López Castillo
Pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country-wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in Panama
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Pertussis
hexavalent vaccine
vaccine efficacy
Panama
universal vaccine coverage
title Pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country-wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in Panama
title_full Pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country-wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in Panama
title_fullStr Pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country-wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in Panama
title_full_unstemmed Pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country-wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in Panama
title_short Pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country-wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in Panama
title_sort pertussis vaccine effectiveness following country wide implementation of a hexavalent acellular pertussis immunization schedule in infants and children in panama
topic Pertussis
hexavalent vaccine
vaccine efficacy
Panama
universal vaccine coverage
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21645515.2024.2389577
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