Whooping Cough Resource Kit | The Monarch Press

We’ve seen a recent outbreak of Whooping Cough in our community and wanted to offer this important information from the Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health

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/acip-recs/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 vaccine-preventable 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 under-vaccinated. 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)
• 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)