Whooping Cough Recurrence Prompts Call for Booster Vaccinations

Whooping cough—also known as pertussis—was once a major cause of childhood illness and death in the United States, but all that changed with an effective vaccine introduced in 1940. That vaccine reduced whopping cough to a minor blip on the medical radar, with less than several thousand cases reported annually. However, there is an increasing number of parents wary of vaccines which has led to a resurgence in whopping cough in California.

California has seen a five-fold increase in whopping cough in the last year, causing school officials some alarm and prompting state assemblyman Juan Arambula (I-Fresno) to introduce Assembly Bill 354 requiring students entering seventh grade to get the pertussis booster shot. Children under the age of one get a series of 3 Tdap shots (diptheria, pertussis, and tetanus) at specific intervals, plus boosters twice before entering school, all requirements for incoming kindergarteners. But many parents neglect to get the booster shot at age 11 or 12, leaving their children susceptible to whopping cough.

Whooping cough is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bug Bordetella pertussis. It is spread through the air, meaning that coughing, sneezing, or simple conversation can spread the infection. It starts with symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a general body ache. While seeming like a normal, dry cough accompanying a cold, within the first week it turns into a wheezing cough where the patient suffers attacks of coughing. After gasping for air, these symptoms can become worse over time if not treated properly. The cough can end in a high-pitched whooping noise, hence where the infection got its interesting name. Whooping cough is dangerous in nature because if ignored it can lead to pneumonia, ear infections, and even seizures.

While whooping cough is most common in children, it can affect adults as well, even those that have been vaccinated. Vaccinations work for only so long and it is important to get booster shots. Additionally many older U.S. residents, American- and foreign-born alike, never received these vaccines as children. (Only 15 percent of people aged 19 to 64 have received the Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.)

AB 354 has passed the Assembly and is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee before going for a vote on the Senate floor

If you are unsure about your current vaccination situation, consult your doctor.