Pertussis Resource Kit
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can be
spread by coughing. People with pertussis have severe coughing attacks that can last for
months. Infants too young for vaccination are at greatest risk for life-threatening cases of
pertussis. Over 9,000 cases of pertussis were reported in California during 2010, the most in
over 60 years, including 10 infant deaths. Consistent with a peak in incidence every 3-5 years,
CDPH has declared a whooping cough epidemic in May of 2014. Pertussis is widespread
throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world.
Make sure that you have been vaccinated against whooping cough. Booster doses are needed
throughout life, because protection against whooping cough after vaccination or disease wanes
over time.
 Pregnant Women are recommended to receive Tdap (whooping cough booster) during
their third trimester of each pregnancy, even if they got it before pregnancy. The
protection that expectant moms receives from Tdap also passes to their baby in the
womb. This helps protect babies during the most vulnerable period, until they are old
enough to get their first whooping cough vaccination at 6--8 weeks of age
 Infants can start the childhood whooping cough vaccine series, DTaP, as early as 6
weeks of age. Even one dose of DTaP may offer some protection against fatal whooping
cough disease in infants. Young children need five doses of DTaP by kindergarten (ages
4-6)
 Students in 7th grade in California need to have met the requirement for a Tdap booster
- see http://shotsforschool.org.
 Adults are also recommended to receive a Tdap booster, especially if they are in
contact with infants or are health care workers, but most adults have not yet received
Tdap.
 Whooping cough vaccination recommendations of the federal Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practice (ACIP) are http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/aciprecs/index.html.
For the latest information on whooping cough in the state of California, visit the CDPH Pertussis
Summary Reports page. For the latest information on whooping cough in Santa Barbara
County, visit the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Epidemiology page.
How Well-Vaccinated Is Your Child's Child Care Facility/School?
Child care facilities with low vaccination rates are at increased risk for outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases. Some children are allowed by California law to skip immunizations if a
parent submits a personal beliefs exemption (PBE) or medical exemption (PME) at enrollment.
Other children, may be admitted to child care on the 'condition' they complete remaining
vaccinations when due. Often there is no follow-up and these children remain undervaccinated. To lookup vaccination rates at your child care/ school, click below:
Child Care/Preschool | Kindergarten | 7th Grade
Resources
For the Public
 Pertussis Disease Questions and Answers (CDC)
 Personal stories by people affected by Pertussis (ShotbyShot website)
 Is It Whooping Cough? Poster | Spanish
 Expecting? Protect Your Baby from Whooping Cough | Spanish
 Immunizations for a Health Pregnancy Brochure | Spanish
 Whooping Cough: What You Need to Know | Spanish
 Protect Yourself and Your Baby | Spanish
 Whooping Cough: Vaccinate to Protect (11X17) poster | Spanish | Chinese (CDC)
For Childcare and Schools
 Pertussis Disease Questions and Answers (CDC)
 Keep Our School Healthy flyer
 Protect Against Flu and Whooping Cough poster | Spanish
 Preteen brochure | Spanish
 Preteen poster | Spanish
Media and Web
 Web Banners
 CDPH Pertussis Radio PSA | Spanish
 Silence the Sounds of Pertussis: Audio and Video PSAs featuring actress Keri Russell
 Sounds of Pertussis video produced by March of Dimes
 Spanish TV PSA featuring a mother who lost her son to pertussis
 Protect Babies from Whooping Cough Infographic
 Pertussis Publication and Materials