Pertussis Hospitalizations Among Infants in the United States, 1993 to 2004

Abstract

Pertussis hospitalization incidence rates among the youngest infants were generally stable in 1993 to 2004 and were highest for infants 1 to 2 months of age. The impact of the new adolescent and adult tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccines on infant pertussis should be monitored through such discharge databases. Additional vaccination strategies should be evaluated to protect infants as early in life as possible.