Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: [Ulrich Heininger reports a relationship with Sanofi Pasteur, USA that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Ulrich Heininger reports a relationship with Sanofi Aventis France that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Ulrich Heininger reports a relationship with Seqirus Vaccines Ltd that includes: consulting or advisory. Ulrich Heininger reports a relationship with Pfizer that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Ulrich Heininger reports a relationship with F Hoffmann-La Roche AG that includes: speaking and lecture fees. Ulrich Heininger reports a relationship with Merck & Co Inc that includes: speaking and lecture fees. UH is a member of the Global Pertussis Initiative and the «Collaboration of European Experts on Pertussis Awareness Generation» CEEPAG and has received honoraria for participation in associated live meetings from Sanofi Pasteur, USA, and Sanofi, France, respectively.]