Two-thirds of cases in 2005 were in adolescents and adults
Protection from childhood whooping cough vaccination wears off by adolescence
Whooping cough can be passed from adolescents and adults to vulnerable infants who have not yet received any or all of their vaccines
A new booster vaccine called Tdap is available to protect adolescents and adults against whooping cough
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that adolescents age 11 to 18 receive a Tdap booster, which also protects against tetanus and diphtheria
It is also recommended that adults ages 19-64 receive a single dose of Tdap for pertussis protection, especially those who have close contact with infants less than 12 months of age.
The information contained in the Pertussis.com Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your health care provider. There may be variations in treatment that your health care provider may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Pertussis.com is an educational project by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP). Pertussis.com is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from sanofi pasteur.
