Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Outbreak in California

As you may have heard, there is a whooping cough outbreak in California.   This necessitates immediate action only in a small number of instances.

Please see this handout for more information on Pertussis in general.   See this handout for local information from the City of Berkeley Public Health.  Some general take-home points:

• This disease is most serious for infants under 6mo old.
• Adolescents and adults are at-risk for the infection as their pertussis immunity has likely waned by 12 years old.   The illness manifests as chronic cough so is inconvenient and uncomfortable for adolescents, but not dangerous.   The biggest problem is transmission of the infection to infants.
• Adolescents need a booster at 11 years old and up, (the Tdap vaccine, which is offered routinely at a well-check), but patients can come in for a nurse immunization visit if desired.
• Children get 3 doses of the DTaP vaccine over the first 6months of life, the 4th dose at 18months, and the 5th dose at 5 years, so fully immunized children under 10 years old are actually quite well protected.
• Infants can start the DTaP vaccine as early as 6wks old (we typically give it at the 2month visit), so please call for a 6wk nurse immunization visit if you have an infant under 6wks old at home.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

To summarize, who should come in for a Pertussis vaccine (DTaP or Tdap):

• Adolescents over age 11 (it will also be offered routinely at the next well check)
• One month old infants can get their first DTaP vaccine at six wks RATHER than routinely at the 2month visit

For parents who suspect their child may have Pertussis, please contact your doctor.