Pertussis (whooping cough) is one of the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in this country. The highly contagious bacterial ailment can make infants severely ill.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control now recommend a single dose of Tdap vaccine for children ages 7-10 years who aren’t fully vaccinated or have an incomplete vaccine history. Pregnant women, and adults who have contact with infants, should also receive the vaccine. Even teens who completed their childhood vaccination series need an additional Tdap for prevention.