Context

Recent evidence suggests that school-aged children with pertussis act as a reservoir for infection in infants who are too young to have been vaccinated and who experience most morbidity.1 ,2 It has been speculated that the newer acellular vaccines may not protect children for as long as the previous whole-cell vaccine. Owing to the recent epidemic (2011–2013) and some infant deaths from pertussis, the UK now offer pregnant women vaccination, whereas in North America an older child booster was introduced. This study was designed to provide further data on the extent of pertussis in school-aged children, which would inform whether introducing a school age booster vaccination would be worthwhile.