An outbreak of pertussis or whooping cough in California has likely caught many people by surprise, after all, most kids get vaccines to protect them against pertussis as infants and toddlers, and a booster before they start kindergarten.
There is even a newer tetanus booster shot (Tdap) that includes the pertussis vaccine to help teens and adults get renewed protection against pertussis, which is important, since the immunity that the pertussis vaccine offers is at its strongest for only about 3 years and then gradually decreases over the next 2 to 7 years.
Pertussis Outbreak- So why is pertussis still a problem? Many teens and adults haven’t gotten the Tdap vaccine yet, can still get sick with pertussis, and can infect infants who haven’t completed their three dose primary series of pertussis vaccines when they are about six months old. The fact that some parents are refusing vaccines or using alternative immunization schedules likely isn’t helping prevent these types of outbreaks of vaccine preventable infections either.
California Pertussis Outbreak- So far in California, as of November 2, 2010, there are 6,431 confirmed, probable and suspect cases of pertussis, with the highest rates in children under three to six month of age. Younger infants also have the highest rates of hospitalization and the most deaths, which has now increased to a total of ten. To help combat this outbreak, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is urging that everyone get vaccinated against pertussis, including:
- anyone 7 years and older who is not fully immunized, including those who are more than 64 years old
- women of childbearing age, before, during, or immediately after pregnancy, and
- other people who have contact with pregnant women or infants.
Preventing a Pertussis Outbreak- Even if you are not in California, this outbreak should be a reminder of how serious pertussis infections are and the importance of pertussis vaccines. Keep in mind that in addition to completing the Dtap series of shots before starting kindergarten and getting a Dtap booster shot when they are 11 to 12 years old (or when they are older if they missed it), the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that adults between the ages of 19 and 64 get a Tdap vaccine if it has been 10 or more years since their last tetanus booster shot.
Adults who will have contact with infants less than 12 months old , including parents, grandparents over 65, child-care providers, and health care workers, should get a Tdap vaccine if they have not had one yet, even if it has been less than 10 years since their last tetanus booster.
The Facts About Pertussis 
Wow, important information on prevention and vaccines. Love it!
Although this is a very specific issue, it is important for new moms and especially for anyone around new babies. It’s important to be aware of the illness and stress the increased importance of vaccinations.
It’s good for people to know that they can pass it on to infants, even if they themselves don’t show symptoms. Thanks for spreading the word!
It drives me crazy that we have a vaccine for this and people are dying because of it. This should be a warning to people who do not vaccinate their children for “philosophical” reasons. We will see more epidemics like this one in the future if the numbers keep going down.
It’s sad that this disease was almost gone and now there are outbreaks occurring. It is so important for parents to make sure they protect their children against this terrible disease.