Whooping Cough (pertussis)
Did you know...
rates of whooping cough have been increasing in adolescents and adults? Adults and adolescents can give the infection to infants, who are at a greatly increased risk of serious complications including death.
Which adults need whooping cough vaccine?
- All adults age 19 to 64 years need a one-time whooping cough booster vaccine.
- Adults age 65 and older need a one-time whooping cough booster if they will have close contact with infants younger than 12 months.
- If not already vaccinated, pregnant women should receive the booster vaccine late in the second trimester or during the third trimester.
- The whooping cough booster is a combination vaccine with tetanus and diphtheria. The vaccine is called Tdap.
- Once an adult gets the Tdap vaccine, he or she should get the Td (tetanus and diphtheria) booster every 10 years from then on.
What happens when an adult gets whooping cough?
- In adults, whooping cough usually starts like a common cold but then the coughing gets worse and can last for weeks or even months.
- Whooping cough spells can leave adults gasping for breath and unable to sleep, and can cause cracked ribs and hospitalization.
- A major concern is that infected adults can infect infants who have a high risk of death from whooping cough (25 US babies younger than one died from whooping cough in 2010).
Why is the whooping cough vaccine important?
- Vaccination can protect you from an illness that can cause serious discomfort and lost work time.
- Pertussis vaccination can help keep you from making others, including infants, sick.
