Background Routine use of whole‐cell pertussis (wP) vaccines was suspended in some
countries in the 1970s and 1980s because of concerns about adverse effects. Following this
action, there was a resurgence of whooping cough. Acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines,
containing purified or recombinant Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis) antigens, were
developed in the hope that they would be as effective, but less reactogenic than the whole‐
cell vaccines. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 1999, and previously …

Objectives Routine use of whole cell pertussis vaccines was suspended in some countries
in the late 1970s and early 1980s, leading to a resurgence of whooping cough. Acellular
pertussis vaccines containing purified or recombinant Bordetella pertussis antigens were
developed in the hope that they would be as effective but less toxic than the whole cell
vaccines. The objective of this review was to assess the effects of acellular pertussis
vaccines in children.