Topic of the Month Archives
Childhood Vaccines - Pertussis
Pertussis is highly infectious and easily spread by aerosolized water droplets when someone sneezes or coughs. Because young children are often in close physical contact with one another on playgrounds and at other locations, the disease is most common among them and also the most devastating. Early flu-like symptoms may mask the underlying tell-tale symptom, which is a deep, persistent cough that many say sounds like a “whoop.” The illness can progress into more violent cough attacks which may be accompanied by vomiting.
The most effective way to protect children from pertussis is to get them immunized. The DTaP vaccine, when administered to infants and children, is highly effective at preventing pertussis; however, children are only considered to be fully immune after receiving a course of 5 shots. Babies who are too young to receive the vaccine or who haven't received all 5 initial shots are highly susceptible to contracting pertussis, especially from family members and other care-givers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently recommended that all adolescents and adults who will have contact with a baby receive the adult form of the pertussis vaccine, Tdap. The CDC has also recommended that pregnant women receive a dose of Tdap during the later stages of their pregnancy. This is to help ensure that a newborn is as protected against pertussis as possible. Subsequent boosters are required in adolescence and adulthood to bolster immunity against the disease. The CDC recommends that both children and adults be vaccinated against pertussis.
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