The number of cases of whooping cough in the United States has increased significantly, which has sparked debate concerning novel vaccine testing techniques.
In order to test novel vaccines and provide longer-lasting protection, experts are thinking about human challenge trials, in which participants are purposefully sick.
Cases of whooping cough, sometimes referred to as pertussis, have increased five times over the previous year in the United States. 14,569 cases have been reported by the CDC this year, which is the most since 2014.
The increasing ineffectiveness of current vaccines has contributed significantly to the rise in cases, even with vaccination rates of approximately 90%.
After two to three years, the protection from these vaccinations, which are frequently given in early childhood, wears off.
Researchers and medical professionals are looking at other testing techniques as the bacterial strain changes to evade vaccination-induced immunity.
The FDA is considering a proposal that would allow for controlled infection of participants in human challenge trials with pertussis in order to evaluate new vaccinations.
There are doubts about whether these studies can accurately determine the level of protection required against serious disease, even if this approach would hasten the creation of a more potent vaccination.
Though cautious, experts are enthusiastic about the future of preventing pertussis.
