Association of Diphtheria-Tetanus–Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Timeliness and Number of Doses With Age-Specific Pertussis Risk in Infants and Young Children

IMPORTANCE: In most countries, the diphtheria-tetanus–acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine is administered as a 3-dose infant series followed by additional booster doses in the first 5 years of life. Short-term immunity from the DTaP vaccine can depend on the number, timing, and interval between doses. Not receiving doses in a timely manner might be associated with a higher pertussis risk. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between number and timeliness of vaccine doses and age-specific pertussis risk. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This population-based, retrospective cohort study used Washington State Immunization Information System data and pertussis surveillance data from Public Health Seattle and King County, Washington. Included participants were children aged 3 months to 9 years born or living in King County, Washington, between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2017. Data were analyzed from June 30 to December 1, 2019. EXPOSURES: Being undervaccinated (receiving fewer than recommended doses at a given age) or delayed vaccination (not receiving doses within time frames recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Suspected, probable, and confirmed pertussis diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 316 404 children (median age, 65.2 months [interquartile range, 35.3-94.1 months]; 162 025 boys [51.2%]) as of December 31, 2017, with 17.4 million person-months of follow-up were included in the analysis. A total of 19 943 children (6.3%) had no vaccines recorded in the Immunization Information System, 116 193 (36.7%) received a vaccine with a delay, and 180 268 (56.9%) were fully vaccinated with no delay. Delayed vaccination and undervaccination rates were higher for older children (17.6% delayed or undervaccinated at age 2 months for dose 1 at 3 months vs 41.6% at age 5 years for dose 5) but improved for successive birth cohorts (52.2% for 2008 birth cohort vs 32.3% for 2017 birth cohort). Undervaccination was significantly associated with higher risk of pertussis for the 3-dose primary series (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 4.8; 95% CI, 3.1-7.6), the first booster (aRR, 3.2; 95% CI, 2.3-4.5), and the second booster (aRR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.6-8.2). However, delay in vaccination among children who received the recommended number of vaccine doses was not associated with pertussis risk. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results of this cohort study suggest that undervaccination is associated with higher pertussis risk. Short delays in vaccine receipt may be less important if the age-appropriate number of doses is administered, but delaying doses is not recommended. Ensuring that children receive all doses of pertussis vaccine, even if there is some delay, is important.