Vaccine for Adolescents to Prevent Life-Threatening Pertussis

The American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP) now recommends routine vaccination of adolescents to protect against pertussis (whooping cough). 

Dr. Bruce Thompson at the Children's Clinic of SWLA said, “In the last 20 years there has been a significant increase in cases of pertussis in the US with a third of those cases occurring in adolescents 11-18 years of age. The reported pertussis-related deaths among infants have doubled in the last 10 years.”

After the introduction of the pertussis vaccine in the 1940’s the cases of pertussis dramatically decreased from almost 200,000 cases annually to a low of 1010 cases in 1976.  “Because of the low number of cases of pertussis in school-aged children and adults, it was believed that the immunization in early childhood gave a life-long immunity.  The vaccine was not given to people 7 years and older,” Thompson said.

With the increase in pertussis cases among adolescents and adults the AAP now says the protective immunity against pertussis decreases within five to ten years after the last childhood vaccination.

            In both adults and adolescents pertussis may cause severe and prolonged coughing, as well as vomiting and complications. “The potential danger is the possibility of spreading the infection to infants too young to have been fully immunized,” said Thompson. “In infants, the disease can be life threatening. Parents need to realize how important it is to vaccinate their children on time.”

            Thompson recommends that young adolescents see their pediatrician at age 11 to 12 for a routine preventative check up. A tetanus and diphtheria and acelllular pertussis (Tdap) should be provided instead of a tetanus and diphtheria (Td) previously required.

            Adolescents 11 to 18 years of age who have received Td but not Tdap are encouraged to receive a single dose of Tdap, although the AAP suggests an interval of 5 years between the Td and Tdap.