What You Need to Know About Whooping Cough
Recently, there's been a lot of news about whooping cough -- a potentially deadly, infectious bacterial disease characterized by cold symptoms that slowly develop into a nasty cough.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control, from 2000-2009, the total number of whooping cough cases reported was approximately 150 percent higher than the total number of cases reported during the 1990s. California, in particular, is experiencing its worst outbreak of the infection in 60 years, and 10 infants have died so far in 2010. Additionally, significant increases have been reported in Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, Minnesota, Idaho, South Carolina and several other states.
Yikes.
We assumed we were vaccinated for this infection as kids, so are we protected or not? And what can we do to make sure we (and our children) don't get sick during this outbreak?
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While nobody really knows why cases of whooping cough -- more formally known as Pertussis -- are on the rise, many experts are attributing it in part to adults not being up to date on their vaccinations.
"Most folks are vigilant about getting vaccines when they're kids, but not as much as they enter adulthood," says Siobhan Dolan, an OB-GYN and geneticist at New York's Albert Einstein College of Medicine who works on the March of Dimes' Sounds of Pertussis campaign. "What some people don't realize is that the immunity wanes over time."
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So, even if you had the series of Pertussis shots as an infant and child, you may be susceptible again as soon as adolescence. What most adults don't realize -- and doctors often fail to mention -- is that it's recommended that you get your Pertussis booster once after age 19.
According to Dolan, the adult vaccine is called Tdap, and covers Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis. While Pertussis isn't necessarily a huge risk to your health as an adult, the main reason to get the vaccine is that the illness can be deadly if you pass it along to an infant or child; babies cannot get vaccinated before the age of 2 months and children are not completely protected until they are about 5. (The photo above is NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon's wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, getting the vaccine shortly after the birth of their sun, Leo Benjamin.)
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Martha Wolfson, a nurse practitioner and Southern California Manager of Operations of Minute Clinic (medical clinics inside CVS pharmacy stores nationwide), suggests women get their Tdap vaccine when they go in for their seasonal flu vaccine this year. Generally, insurance covers the cost but, if not, you're looking at $92 well spent at the Minute Clinic or at your doc.
Not sure if you've had the booster? Join the club. No worries -- doubling up isn't dangerous. It's fine to get the Tdap shot regardless of whether you've had the Pertussis booster or even a Tetanus booster (which is recommended every 10 years) at some point as an adult. Better safe than sorry.
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