In October 2010, despite the lack of an approved Tdap vaccine for adults aged 65 years and older, ACIP recommended that unvaccinated adults aged 65 years and older be vaccinated with Tdap if in close contact with an infant, and that other adults aged 65 years and older may receive Tdap (3). In July 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved expanding the age indication for Boostrix (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium) to aged 65 years and older (4). In February 2012, ACIP recommended Tdap for all adults aged 65 years and older. This recommendation supersedes previous Tdap
recommendations regarding adults aged 65 years and older.
The Pertussis Vaccines Work Group of ACIP reviewed the epidemiology of pertussis in adults aged 65 years and older and two cost-effectiveness models to assess the epidemiologic and economic impact of pertussis vaccination in this population.
The Work Group also considered safety and immunogenicity data from clinical trials and observational studies on the use of Tdap in adults aged 65 years and older (3).
