Pertussis Vaccination

Pertussis infection can cause severe respiratory illness or death in infancy. Those most at risk are too young to be vaccinated since the first DTaP vaccination is at 2 months of age. According to the CDC, most of the deaths each year from the infection are in babies younger than 3 months old.

Between 2010 and 2020, up to 20 babies died from it each year in the United States. Of those infants hospitalized, about 1 out of 5 will get pneumonia and 1 out of 100 will die.

Parents, caregivers and siblings should be properly immunized. Women in their third trimester of each pregnancy are advised to get Tdap as well as all adults every 10 years. Even if their mothers were immunized during their pregnancy, infants who have transition of caretakers after birth are at risk for contracting pertussis if their caretakers have not been properly immunized.

Individuals who receive their pertussis vaccine at Marshall Pharmacy will have the chance to receive a gas card.

For additional information, contact Marshall Pediatrics at 304.691.1300.