Whooping cough cases on the rise in the US: Who needs a Tdap vaccine and what you should know

Amid the intensifying measles crisis, health experts are also warning about another health threat that has witnessed a massive surge in the recent past. The falling vaccination rates of preventable diseases may be the reason behind the escalating crisis. Whooping cough cases skyrocketed by more than 1,500% in the United States since hitting a recent low in 2021 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Whooping cough or pertussis could adversely affect babies younger than one, immunocompromised, and other vulnerable populations. Deaths of two babies due to whooping cough have been recorded in Louisiana in the last six months. Washington state announced its first confirmed death from pertussis in more than a decade. Idaho and South Dakota each reported a death this year.

According to a ProPublica analysis, apart from vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella those for pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and polio have also fallen, which could add to the ongoing health crisis. Health experts say that decreases in vaccination rates could cause more outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough, a highly contagious infection, is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is common in infants and young children. The infection transmits easily from person to person mainly through respiratory droplets produced by an infected person while coughing or sneezing.

The symptoms of whooping cough include runny nose, dry cough which sounds like a whoop, fever, sneezing, watery eyes, and vomiting among others.

The infection can severely affect infants and young children. If left untreated, whooping cough can lead to long-term disability or death. Serious symptoms include lung infection or pneumonia, seizures and brain damage or encephalopathy.

Vaccines for whooping cough DTaP vaccine: There are two types of vaccine for whooping cough. DTaP vaccine is given to children younger than 7 years. It is given as a series of five doses - at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years. Once a child is 7 years old, they receive a booster dose of Tdap.

Tdap vaccine: It is given to children who are 7 years and older, adolescents, and adults. Adolescents should receive a single dose of Tdap, preferably at the age of 11 or 12 years. It's also recommended for pregnant women between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. Adults should also get a dose.

Adults should be given a booster dose of Tdap every 10 years or after 5 years in the case of a severe or dirty wound or burn.

Tdap vaccine can prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. While tetanus causes painful muscle stiffness and can lead to trouble swallowing, breathing, or even death, diphtheria affects the respiratory system and may cause breathing issues, heart failure, or paralysis. Pertussis or whooping cough causes severe coughing fits and can be life-threatening in infants, while in teens and adults, it may lead to complications like fainting or broken ribs.

DTaP contains full-strength doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccines, and is typically given to infants and young children. Tdap, on the other hand, includes a full-strength dose of the tetanus vaccine but reduced doses of diphtheria and pertussis, and is recommended for older children, teens, and adults, according to Healthline. Modern whooping cough vaccines use an acellular pertussis component—made from inactivated parts of the Bordetella pertussis bacterium—making them safer and with fewer side effects, as noted by the CDC.

For how long does the vaccine offer protection?

A single dose of Tdap doesn't provide lifelong immunity against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. The immunity wanes fastest for Pertussis. According to the CDC, adults should receive a booster dose of Tdap or Td every 10 years.
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