Whooping Cough Cases Up! Have You Been Vaccinated?

With nearly 18,000 reported cases of whooping cough this year, it may be the worst year for whooping cough in almost half a century so we just wanted to remind everyone about whooping cough vaccines.

This is a good time to make sure your child is up-to-date on vaccination against whooping cough, or pertussis. There are five doses, with the first shot at age 2 months and the last between 4 and 6 years. A booster shot is recommended around 11 or 12. It’s part of routine childhood shots that also protect against diphtheria and tetanus.

Children aren’t the only ones who need to vaccinate against childhood diseases. It is extremely important for everyone’s health that adults, and especially parents and parents-to-be, to get their vaccines as well.

Children under the age of one, and particularly children under six months, aren’t even old enough to receive many vaccines yet, so it’s up to parents, family and other caregivers who may be around them (friends, nannies, etc.) to keep up with their vaccines so that they can’t pass on dangerous diseases to an infant. If you or your partner is pregnant, we strongly suggest that you talk to your doctor about what vaccines he or she advises before your delivery date. Even if you’re only thinking of getting pregnant, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor about vaccines during a pre-conception visit.

Remember vaccines can be a very low-cost way for both you and your children to stay healthy. Most vaccines are covered by health insurance, and if you do not have health insurance, you or your child may be eligible for free or minimal cost vaccines through programs like the Vaccines For Children program: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/default.htm.

For more on vaccination, immunization and related topics, we recommend our friends at Every Child By Two (http://ecbt.org/) and their blog ShotofPrevention.com (http://shotofprevention.com/).

Have you had the whooping cough vaccine? Tell us about it in our discussion forum!

Related posts:

1. 1,500 Cases of Whooping Cough Now Reported in California; Officials Call for Vaccinations of Elderly, Children and Pregnanc Women
2. Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Claims Lives of 9 Infants in California, Spreads to the Northeast
3. 5 Die in California from Whooping Cough as Epidemic Declared; Vaccines More Important Than Ever
4. A Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Case Study; Don't Forget to Vaccinate!
5. Vaccine Alert: Whooping Cough (Pertussis) on the Rise, Free Vaccines Available