So far in 2025, there have been over 4 times as many cases of whooping cough compared to this time last year. So yes, cases are up. Now is a good time to make sure you are up-to-date on this vaccine.
In the 5 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were about 15,000-20,000 cases of whooping cough in the U.S. each year. This dropped down to ~2000-6000 cases from 2020-2023 [archived link] thanks to social distancing and mask wearing. Last year, the number of cases shot up to over 35,000 (https://tinyurl.com/47xjd5nv), with 10 deaths (six of which were in children aged < 1 year). If we stay on this pace for 2025, this could mean far exceeding the number of cases (and deaths) seen in the U.S. in decades [archived link].
Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) [archived link] is caused by infection with the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It causes respiratory symptoms [archived link] such as runny or stuffy nose, low-grade fever, and cough that makes a high-pitched “whoop” sound, hence the name. Severe cough caused by this illness [archived link] can lead to injuries like broken ribs and hospitalization in older adults.
Whooping cough is also particularly dangerous for newborns [archived link] as it can cause life-threatening pauses in breathing and cyanosis-i.e., skin turning blue. About 1 in 3 newborns with pertussis are hospitalized [archived link]. People with whooping cough are also very contagious (for up to several weeks).
Fortunately, there is a vaccine available!
Unfortunately, vaccination rates in school-age children have been on the decline in recent years [archived link] ☹️. Some of us may also have just gotten behind on getting our next dose (oops).
The key time points for this vaccine are:
✅ 2, 4, and 6 months, between 15-18 months, and between 4-6 years (5 doses of the Dtap vaccine)
✅ 11-12 years (one dose of the Tdap vaccine)
✅ Pregnancy (one dose of the Tdap vaccine during the 3rd trimester of *each* pregnancy)
✅ Adulthood (one dose of the Tdap vaccine every 10 years)
[CDC – People of all ages need whooping cough vaccines. Graphic source.]
Re-upping your protection against pertussis at these points is important, as vaccine effectiveness wanes substantially over time. It is also necessary to get vaccinated during each pregnancy to help protect each new baby in the first weeks after birth. High rates of vaccination against pertussis in a community can also serve to lower the chances newborns get exposed to this bacteria before they have the chance to get vaccinated.
If you aren’t sure if you are due for another shot, you can check your vaccination status with your clinician or your state vaccine registry and Tdap shots are available at your local pharmacy or clinical office if you are due. New grandparents, or anyone who is going to spend any time around newborns, should 100% make sure they are up-to-date on this vaccine.
