Pertussis Vaccine:
A Guide for Parents
Recently, a new vaccine was developed to help prevent teens from getting “whooping cough.” Whooping cough is caused by bacteria called Bordetella pertussis and spreads very easily from person to person. Your teen may have been vaccinated against whooping cough as a young child, but the protection often wears off over time. That is why many middle school and high school students have had this disease. Read more to learn about the pertussis vaccine and whether or not it is something your teen should get.
What is pertussis and how do people get it?
Pertussis is an infection that causes severe coughing. It is also called "whooping cough" because of the "whoop-like" sound that occurs when one breathes air into his or her lungs. Pertussis typically starts with a runny nose, mild fever, and a cough that gets worse with time and lasts for many weeks. Sometimes the cough is so bad that one can throw up. A person catches pertussis if they come in close contact with another person who has it. When a person who has pertussis sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets of bacteria (that one can’t see) go into the air. People who are nearby can inhale the pertussis bacteria, which can then cause whooping cough.
Who is at risk for getting pertussis?
Anyone can get pertussis. Babies are at greatest risk since they are not completely protected from pertussis until they get all their pertussis shots. By 15 to 18 months, a child should have received four pertussis shots with a fifth one just before starting school (see glossary item: DTaP). Teenagers and adults are also at risk because the protection from these early vaccines wears off over time. Anyone living or spending time in close quarters, such as in college dormitories or in classrooms, is at risk for getting pertussis because it is so easily spread from person to person.
How many people get pertussis each year?
In the early 1940s, before the vaccine was available, about 200,000 people in the United States got pertussis each year. As you might imagine, after people started getting vaccinated, fewer people got sick. Since then, however, the number of teenagers and adults getting pertussis has increased. This is most likely because the vaccine from childhood wears off over time.
How can I protect my teen from getting pertussis?
One of the best ways to help protect your teen against pertussis is the new Tdap vaccine (Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). The FDA approved the Tdap vaccine in 2005. It is a vaccine created for teenagers and adults to prevent three different bacterial infections: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Tdap is a booster shot, meaning it will help teens’ immune system fight against infection only if they have received the first group of pertussis shots, called DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis), when they were younger.
What is DTaP?
DTaP is the pertussis vaccine your teen should have received as a baby and young child. Unlike the Tdap booster shot, DTaP is stronger and given in five different shots at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months of age, and just before starting school (age 4-6 years). It is necessary to get the DTaP vaccines as a child to help one make the antibodies that target pertussis. Antibodies are small particles created by your immune system to fight infection.
How does the vaccine work?
The DTaP vaccine is composed of "inactive" pertussis bacteria. "Inactive" means that the part of bacteria in the vaccine is not able to cause an infection. When one gets the vaccine, the inactive bacteria are injected into the body, most often in the arm. The body recognizes the bacteria as foreign and starts making antibodies to fight the inactive bacteria. These antibodies then help protect the body from infection if a person comes in contact with someone who has pertussis in the future.
At what age should my teen get the Tdap booster vaccine?
It is best for your teen to receive the vaccine at the 11-12 year old checkup with a health care provider. However, your teen can receive the vaccine anytime between 11-18 years of age. The Tdap vaccine can replace the Td (Tetanus diphtheria) vaccine that is currently recommended for use in adolescents.
How many Tdap shots does my teen need?
Your teen will only need a single booster shot if he/she already had the first group of DTaP vaccines as a baby and young child. The health care provider should make sure your teen had the first five DTaP vaccinations before giving the Tdap booster shot.
How long will my teen be protected from pertussis after getting the Tdap vaccine?
It is not known exactly how long the Tdap booster shot will protect your teen from pertussis. Although the vaccine does not prevent pertussis 100% of the time, the vaccine will greatly decrease the chance of getting a pertussis infection.
If my teen gets vaccinated and then comes in contact with someone with pertussis, does he/she need to do anything?
Yes, it is recommended that anyone who comes in close contact with someone with pertussis call or make an appointment with their health care provider. Your teen’s health care provider may prescribe an antibiotic. This will help decrease the spread of whooping cough to others, especially young infants, although the chance of getting pertussis is much less after receiving the Tdap vaccine.
Are there any side effects?
After getting the pertussis vaccine, it is possible your teen will experience:
Your teen’s health care provider may have him/her stay in the office for about 15-20 minutes after the vaccine shot, to make sure there is no bad reaction. However, if your teen experiences trouble breathing or itchiness after leaving the office or health clinic it is important to contact your teen’s health care provider right away and go to the closest emergency room. |
Is there any reason for my teen to wait or not get the Tdap vaccine?
Most teens can get the Tdap with no problems. However, there may be a reason why your teen should wait or not get the vaccine. Check the questions below. If you answer yes to any of them, be sure to talk to your health care provider about whether it is a good idea for your teen to get the Tdap vaccine:
Is there anything I should ask my teen’s health care provider before my teen gets the vaccine?
Yes. It’s a good idea to ask your teen’s health care provider the following questions so you can learn about your teen’s vaccine history.
We hope that this information will help you make positive health choices for your teen. Talk to your teen’s health care provider about whether the new pertussis vaccine is a good choice. The vaccine is a great way to protect your teen against whooping cough. |
Published 4/23/2007
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