Department of Research & Evaluation News

PASADENA, Calif. – Immunizing older adults with the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis vaccine (Tdap) to prevent pertussis (more commonly referred to as whooping cough) was found to be as safe as immunizing them with the tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine, according to a study by Kaiser Permanente published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Researchers examined the electronic health records of nearly 120,000 people ages 65 and older at seven U.S. health systems between Jan. 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2010. The study looked at a number of medical conditions following Tdap vaccination and found that although there is a small increased risk of injection-site reactions one to six days following Tdap vaccination compared to other time periods, they are no more common than those following Td vaccination. Researchers also found that patients who had received a tetanus- or diphtheria-containing vaccine within the prior five years did not have a higher rate of reaction from the Tdap vaccine.

Published data on the safety of the Tdap vaccine in persons 65 years and older is limited as the vaccine was initially not licensed for this age group, said study lead author Hung Fu Tseng, PhD, MPH from Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Department of Research & Evaluation. However, as the number of elderly individuals receiving Tdap increases, evaluation of the safety of the vaccine in this population becomes essential.

The study provides empirical safety data suggesting that immunizing adults 65 years and older with Tdap should not have negative health impacts. All adults 65 and older should receive Tdap to reduce the risk of pertussis in the elderly and people they come in contact with.

Recent outbreaks of whooping cough and infant deaths are a reminder of how serious these infections are and that pertussis immunization is important, particularly since one of the most common sources of pertussis in infants is their relatives, including their grandparents, said Tseng. These findings should instill additional confidence for clinicians serving older adult populations in recommending the Tdap vaccine as a safe way to reduce the risk of pertussis infections.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most effective way to prevent pertussis is through immunization. Five doses of adiphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTaP) are recommended for infants and children starting at two months of age. Since protection from the childhood vaccine may fade over time, a Tdap vaccine is recommended for preteens, teens and adults. Tdap is especially important for expectant mothers and those caring for infants.

Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing and can be deadly in infants, especially those under two months of age who are too young to be vaccinated. In 1976, there were just over 1,000 reported cases of pertussis in the United States; by 2010, it climbed to nearly 28,000 cases – the largest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1959, when 40,000 cases were reported. Between 2000 and 2005 there were 140 deaths resulting from pertussis in the United States.

This study is part of the Vaccine Safety Datalink project, a collaborative effort between the CDC’s Immunization Safety Office and 10 health systems, including Kaiser Permanente. The VSD project was established in 1990 to monitor immunization safety and address the gaps in scientific knowledge about rare and serious events following immunization.

The research is also part of Kaiser Permanente’s broader efforts to deliver transformational health research regarding the safety and effectiveness ofvaccines. Earlier this year, Kaiser Permanente researchers found that the herpes zoster vaccine, also known as the shingles vaccine, is generally safe and well tolerated. Another Kaiser Permanente study from this year found that vaccines for measles were not associated with an increased risk of febrile seizures among 4–6 year olds during the six weeks after vaccination.

In addition to lead author Tseng, study authors included Steven J. Jacobsen, MD, PhD, Lina S. Sy, MPH, Lei Qian, PhD, and S. Michael Marcy, MD, of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation; Lisa A. Jackson, MD, MPH, of the Group Health Research Institute; Jason Glanz, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente Colorado; Jim Nordin, MD, of the Health Partners Research Foundation; Roger Baxter, MD, of Kaiser Permanente Northern California; Allison Naleway, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente Northwest; James Donahue, DVM, PhD, MPH, of the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation; and Eric Weintraub, MPH, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Immunization Safety Office.

About the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research & Evaluation
The Department of Research & Evaluation conducts high-quality, innovative research into disease etiology, prevention, treatment and care delivery. Investigators conduct epidemiology, health sciences, and behavioral research as well as clinical trials. Areas of interest include diabetes and obesity, cancer, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, aging and cognition, pregnancy outcomes, women’s and children’s health, quality and safety, vaccine safety and effectiveness, and pharmacoepidemiology. Located in Pasadena, Calif., the department focuses on translating research to practice quickly to benefit the health and lives of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members and the general population. Visit www.kp.org/research.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We serve approximately 8.9 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.