An Analysis of the Occurrence of Convulsions and Death After Childhood Vaccination

• Published in: Toxicology mechanisms and methods 2002, Vol.12 (1), p.71-78
• Main Authors: Geier, David A., Geier, Mark R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acellular DtaP; vaccine; VAERS; whole-cell DTP
• ISSN: 1537-6516; 1537-6524
• DOI: 10.1080/15376510209167937

The association between the whole-cell diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine and the occurrence of convulsions and death has long been debated by the medical and scientific communities. A certified copy of the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System database was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control, and the data were analyzed using the Microsoft Access program. The results of this analysis reveal a statistically (p < .01) higher rate of occurrence of convulsions and death after whole-cell DTP vaccination than after acellular DTP and DT vaccination, showing, as do the previous findings of many other scientists, that acellular DTP vaccine is much less reactogenic than is whole-cell DTP vaccine. This study helps to validate the decision by American vaccine manufactures and the Food and Drug Administration to use only acellular DTP for the American childhood vaccination schedule. However, acellular DTP vaccine is still more reactogenic than is DT vaccine, probably because the pertussis component of most currently available acellular DPT vaccines contains toxoided pertussis toxin that has a significant rate of reversion to active toxin. This suggests the need to use the newer acellular pertussis vaccines, which are of higher purity and in which the reversion of the pertussis toxin is prevented.