California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is providing pertussis vaccine free of charge to hospitals.

In a CDPH News release today,   Dr. Mark Horton, director of the CDPH, urged Californians to get vaccinated now, warning that the state is on pace to suffer the most illnesses and deaths due to pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in 50 years.

“Whooping cough is now an epidemic in California,” Horton said. “Children should be vaccinated against the disease and parents, family members and caregivers of infants need a booster shot.”

What causes whooping cough?

According to the American Academy of Pediatircs (AAP),” whooping cough is caused by bacteria that infect the top of the throat (pharynx) where it meets the nasal passages. The bacteria bother the throat, which causes coughing.”

How does it spread?

The AAP explains how whooping cough spreads easily from person to person. “When someone with the disease coughs, sneezes, or laughs, tiny drops of fluid holding the bacteria are put into the air. The bacteria can infect others when they breathe in the drops or get them on their hands and touch their mouth or nose. After the bacteria infect someone, symptoms appear about 7 to 14 days later.”

As of June 15, California had recorded 910 cases of pertussis. Five infants — all under three months of age — have died from the disease this year. In addition, 600 more possible cases of pertussis are being investigated by local health departments.

 A typical case of pertussis in children and adults starts with a seemingly non-life threatening cough and runny nose for one-to-two weeks.  By the time the rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with the “signature” whooping sound occur, it may be too late. Fever is rare. 

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease. Unimmunized or incompletely immunized young infants are particularly vulnerable. Since 1998, more than 80 percent of the infants in California who have died from pertussis have been Hispanic.

The pertussis vaccine is safe for children and adults. Pertussis vaccination begins at two months of age, but young infants are not adequately protected until the initial series of three shots is complete at 6 months of age. The series of shots that most children receive wears off by the time they finish middle school. Neither vaccination nor illness from pertussis provides lifetime immunity.

Pregnant women may be vaccinated against pertussis before pregnancy, during pregnancy or after giving birth. Fathers may be vaccinated at any time, but preferably before the birth of their baby. CDPH encourages birthing hospitals to implement policies to vaccinate new mothers and fathers before sending newborns home.

Anyone having contact with infants, including family members, healthcare workers, and childcare workers, should also be vaccinated. Individuals should contact their regular health care provider or local health department to inquire about pertussis vaccination.

Right now the highest occurrence of the disease is happening in the agricultural areas of the state. Doctors believe the highest occurrence of the disease being seen in these areas may be due to the high migrant worker populations who often are not immunized for the disease. 

Armed with the information regarding the highly contagious nature and possible fatality to you or your family along with the proven safety and protection of the pertussis vaccine, doesn’t it make sense to make sure you and your family won’t become a statistic in this epidemic?

Laura King