Madison Clarke
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is most dangerous for infants, who can develop severe complications such as pneumonia, uncontrollable shaking, or even brain damage. The CDC recommends vaccination for babies, children, preteens, pregnant women, and adults. There are two types of combination vaccines: DTaP for babies and children under 7, and Tdap for older children, preteens, teens, and adults. Babies require three shots of DTaP, while children need two booster shots to maintain protection. Pregnant women should receive the Tdap vaccine in their third trimester to protect their babies in the first few months of life. Adults should receive a Tdap booster every 10 years to maintain protection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who should get the vaccine | Babies, children, preteens, pregnant women, and adults |
| Type of vaccine | DTaP and Tdap |
| Number of shots of DTaP for babies | 3 |
| Ages for DTaP shots for babies | 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months |
| Number of booster shots of DTaP for children | 2 |
| Ages for DTaP booster shots for children | 15-18 months and 4-6 years |
| Age for Tdap shot for preteens | 11-12 years |
| Tdap shot for adults | Yes, especially if they have never received one |
| Tdap shot interval for adults | Every 10 years |
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What You'll Learn
Whooping cough vaccine for babies
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a respiratory disease that can cause serious illness in people of all ages, but it is most dangerous for babies. It is highly infectious in unvaccinated people. In babies, whooping cough can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia (lung infection), uncontrollable shaking, or even brain damage.
The whooping cough vaccine is highly effective when people get all the recommended doses. The CDC recommends that babies receive the DTaP vaccine, which also protects against diphtheria and tetanus. Babies need three shots of DTaP to build up high levels of protection against whooping cough. The CDC recommends these shots at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months. Children need two booster shots of DTaP at the ages of 15 months and 5 years to maintain protection through early childhood.
Pregnant women should also receive the Tdap vaccine during the early part of the third trimester to protect babies from whooping cough in their first few months of life. Anyone who will be around a newborn baby should be current on their pertussis vaccination.
While the whooping cough vaccine is very safe, as with any medicine, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days, but serious reactions are possible.
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Whooping cough vaccine for children
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly infectious respiratory disease that causes uncontrollable coughing fits followed by a "whoop" sound. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The disease can affect people of all ages but is most dangerous for babies, who can develop severe complications.
The CDC recommends whooping cough vaccination for everyone, including babies, children, preteens, pregnant women, and adults. Vaccination is the best way to protect against the disease, and there are two types of combination vaccines available: DTaP and Tdap. These vaccines also protect against tetanus and diphtheria.
DTaP vaccines (e.g., Daptacel®, Quadracel®, and Vaxelis®) are given to children under the age of 7. Babies need three shots to build up high levels of protection, administered in a series of five shots at specific intervals: the first three shots at 2, 4, and 6 months, followed by two booster shots at 15-18 months and 4-6 years old.
Tdap vaccines (e.g., Adacel® and Boostrix®) are "booster" shots for older children, preteens, teens, and adults. Preteens should get their first Tdap shot between the ages of 11 and 12 to boost their immunity. After the first Tdap vaccine, additional booster shots are recommended every 10 years to maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
Pregnant women should also receive the Tdap vaccine during the early part of the third trimester of each pregnancy to protect their babies from whooping cough in their first few months of life.
Mild side effects from the vaccines are common and usually go away on their own. These may include body aches, nausea or vomiting, swelling, pain, or redness at the injection site, and reduced appetite.
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Whooping cough vaccine for adults
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly infectious respiratory disease that affects people of all ages and can cause serious illness. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and spreads via aerosols. While it is dangerous for people of all ages, it is most dangerous for babies, who are at the greatest risk of getting the disease and experiencing severe complications.
The CDC recommends whooping cough vaccination for everyone, including adults. There are two types of combination vaccines that protect against whooping cough: DTaP and Tdap. DTaP vaccines are given to babies and children under the age of 7, while Tdap is for older children and adults. Babies receive three shots of DTaP, while children need two booster shots to maintain protection through early childhood.
Tdap is a "booster" shot that protects preteens, teens, and adults from tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Preteens should get one shot of Tdap between the ages of 11 and 12 to boost their immunity. Teens and adults who have never received the Tdap vaccine or have missed a dose should get the shot at their next healthcare provider appointment. Tdap vaccinations are extremely important for pregnant women, who should get the vaccine during the early part of the third trimester of each pregnancy. The main goal is to protect babies from whooping cough in their first few months of life, when they are most vulnerable.
To maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria, adults should get a booster dose of Tdap every 10 years. The Tdap vaccine is available at healthcare providers' offices or pharmacies.
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Tdap and DTaP vaccines
Tdap and DTaP are two types of vaccines that help protect against three serious diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). The "a" in both vaccine names stands for "acellular," meaning the vaccines contain only parts of the bacteria that cause whooping cough instead of the whole bacteria.
DTaP is the vaccine for infants and young children. Children under the age of seven receive DTaP, with the last dose at around four to six years of age. The CDC recommends that children receive five doses of the DTaP vaccine, with the first dose at age two months, to build up high levels of protection against whooping cough. Children also need two booster shots of DTaP to maintain protection through early childhood.
Tdap is the vaccine for older children and adults. The CDC recommends that adolescents receive a dose of Tdap preferably between the ages of 11 and 12 years to boost their immunity. Adults 19 years and older should receive a dose of Tdap if they were not previously vaccinated in adolescence. To maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria, adults should get a booster dose of Tdap every 10 years.
Pregnant women are advised to get the Tdap vaccine, preferably between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation, to help protect their infants from whooping cough in the first few months of life.
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Whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy
The whooping cough vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women. The Tdap vaccine is deemed very safe for pregnant women and their babies, and the CDC recommends getting vaccinated early in the third trimester of each pregnancy. This is to allow each baby to get the greatest number of protective antibodies and the best protection possible against whooping cough. The Tdap vaccine can be safely administered at any point during pregnancy, but for optimal protection, it is recommended between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation.
The Tdap vaccine is important for protecting mothers and newborns. When a pregnant woman receives the Tdap vaccine, her body creates protective antibodies and passes high levels of them to the baby before birth. These antibodies provide the baby with some short-term protection against whooping cough in early life. They can protect the baby from some of the serious complications of whooping cough. For babies who do get whooping cough, the infection is typically less serious if their mother received the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy.
The Tdap vaccine is one of two types of combination vaccines that protect against whooping cough. The other is the DTaP vaccine, which is for babies and children younger than 7 years old. Tdap is meant for older children and adults. Both vaccines help protect people from getting whooping cough.
The Tdap vaccine is safe for pregnant women and their babies, and there is no increased risk for pregnancy complications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved both Tdap vaccines (Boostrix and Adacel) for use during pregnancy. Multiple safety systems monitor Tdap vaccination in pregnancy, and no safety concerns have been identified for babies whose mothers received the vaccine during pregnancy.
The whooping cough vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women, ideally at 20 weeks pregnant. It is important to get re-vaccinated at 20 weeks in each pregnancy to maximise protection for the baby.
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Frequently asked questions
The CDC recommends that babies, children, preteens, pregnant women, and adults get the whooping cough vaccine.
Babies need 3 shots of the DTaP vaccine to build up high levels of protection against whooping cough. Children need 2 booster shots of DTaP to maintain protection through early childhood. Preteens should get one shot of Tdap between the ages of 11 and 12 years to boost their immunity. Adults should get a booster dose of Tdap every 10 years.
Most people don't experience any severe symptoms after the whooping cough vaccine. Mild side effects may include body aches, nausea or vomiting, reactions where the shot was given (such as swelling, pain, or redness), and reduced appetite.
The whooping cough vaccine helps protect against whooping cough, a respiratory disease that can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing fits. The vaccine is highly effective in preventing the disease, especially when all the recommended doses are received.
