The history of pertussis in European countries has clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of pertussis vaccination in reducing the incidence of the disease. In some countries, whole-cell inactivated vaccines have been part of the national immunization program for over 30 years, but the associated side effects, particularly in older individuals, have become a real problem. Significant efforts have been made since 1970 to identify the key virulence factors of Bordetella pertussis in order to develop new acellular vaccines. In Europe, the use of acellular pertussis vaccines varies widely from one country to another—ranging from universal vaccination of all infants to limited use for booster doses in older children, or in cases where whole-cell vaccines are contraindicated. To assess the current status of pertussis vaccination in Europe, a questionnaire was sent in October 1999 to representatives of public health authorities in 16 European countries. The questions focused on vaccination programs and schedules, vaccination coverage after the first three doses, pertussis surveillance data, the type of vaccine used, and planned changes. This article presents the results of this survey.