A cross-sectional study of Bordetella pertussis seroprevalence and estimated duration of vaccine protection against pertussis in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Background: In Russia as in other countries introduction of infant vaccination against pertussis in 1950s led to dramatic decrease of whooping cough. The current vaccination schedule includes a 3-dose infant series and toddler booster; the pre-school booster was cancelled in 1980s and never reintroduced. Whole-cell vaccines, and in a smaller proportion acellular vaccines are used for all doses.

Monitoring of Bordetella isolates circulating in Saint Petersburg, Russia between 2001 and 2009.

Bordetella isolates in the Saint Petersburg region have been monitored since 1998. Over the past ten years, concomitant with the increase in pertussis whole-cell vaccine coverage, the incidence of whooping cough has decreased. However, this decrease exists only for Bordetella pertussis infections, as the incidence of Bordetella parapertussis confirmed cases has remained stable, suggesting that pertussis-vaccine-induced immunity is not protective against parapertussis, as expected.