Whooping cough has returned to pre-pandemic levels, yet it is preventable with the Tdap/DTaP vaccine. A recent survey indicates that a third of the public is unaware that this disease can be prevented. Adults require boosters once every 10 years.
What’s going on?
from Your Local Epidemiologist (September 2024)
Cases of pertussis are three times higher right now than last year. This means these bacterial infections are returning to pre-pandemic levels and causing disruption. For example, a recent college football game was canceled because of a huge outbreak.
In 1997, the U.S. switched to a second-generation vaccine to reduce side effects. It still helps prevent disease but doesn’t completely stop transmission. Protection also wanes faster than the first-generation vaccine. This is one hypothesized reason for the resurgence.
Newer vaccines are being developed to provide more durable protection but have not yet been released to the market. Until then, everyone needs boosters. (Unfortunately, infection also doesn’t give lifelong protection).
- CDC recommends one dose of vaccine every 10 years for adults after the primary series is completed.
- Some pertussis experts have suggested that more frequent boosters may be needed.
- Vaccination in the second or third trimester of every pregnancy is critical.