| pertussis vaccine | A suspension of killed bordetella pertussis organisms, used for immunization against pertussis (whooping cough). It is generally used in a mixture with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (dtp). There is an acellular pertussis vaccine prepared from the purified antigenic components of bordetella pertussis, which causes fewer adverse reactions than whole-cell vaccine and, like the whole-cell vaccine, is generally used in a mixture with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| human pertussis immune serum | The sterile serum prepared from the pooled blood of healthy adult human beings who have received repeated courses of phase I pertussis vaccine; administered intravenously or intramuscularly for the prophylaxis or treatment of whooping cough. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine | A vaccine consisting of diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis vaccine. It is usually given to infants three times at two-month intervals, generally at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. In most cases the vaccine causes only a temporary fever and discomfort, but in a few cases serious neurological side effects have been observed. (12 Dec 1998) |