Whooping Cough, Tdap and DTaP Vaccines
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can be spread by coughing. People with pertussis have severe coughing attacks that can last for months. Infants too young for vaccination are at greatest risk for life-threatening cases of whooping cough.
Make sure that you have been vaccinated against whooping cough. Booster doses are needed throughout life because protection after pertussis vaccine or disease wears off over time.
- Young children need five doses of DTaP by kindergarten (ages 4 to 6).
- The Tdap booster is a requirement for students entering the 7th grade in California.
- Pregnant women are recommended to receive a Tdap booster during their third trimester of each pregnancy, even if they got it before pregnancy.
- Adults who have not received a dose of Tdap at or after age 11 are recommended to receive one dose of Tdap, then either Td or Tdap every 10 years.
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) recommendations for DTaP and Tdap vaccines.
Contact your Sharp Community primary care doctor to discuss how to get pertussis vaccine.