North Carolina health officials last Friday reported the first infant death of 2013 blamed on pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. The child was three weeks old and lived in Transylvania County. The state Department of Health & Human Services said whooping cough is spreading throughout the state, and they’re urging residents to take precautions to prevent more deaths.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious illness that is spread from person to person usually by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others.

Infants are too young to be immunized, so officials say its important for anyone who lives around or comes into contact with babies to be up to date on shots. They also advise pregnant women to get a vaccine early in pregnancy, which provides some protection for babies until they’re old enough to get vaccinations. State health officials offer these tips:

• Make sure your child is current on his or her vaccinations. The DTaP vaccination series is recommended for children starting at 2 months of age, and continuing at 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months and 4-6 years of age.  DTaP is a vaccine that helps children younger than age 7 develop immunity to diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis). Tdap is a booster immunization given at age 11 or older that offers extended protection from those diseases for adolescents and adults.
• If you are pregnant, vaccination with Tdap is needed during every pregnancy to provide some protection to your infant from pertussis until your infant is old enough to be vaccinated.
• Insist that the adults in your children’s lives also are vaccinated. Babysitters, childcare providers, family members, and others who come in close contact with your children should be vaccinated.
• Do not forget booster shots. The Tdap booster shot is recommended for any child 7-10 who did not complete the childhood DTaP vaccination series, and anyone 11 and older who has not yet received a Tdap booster. All children 11-12 years of age should receive one dose of Tdap vaccine. Tdap can be administered regardless of the interval since the last tetanus and diphtheria containing vaccine. It is never too late for teenagers or adults to receive the booster if they haven’t already.

“State law requires pertussis vaccinations for pre-school and school-age children, but we know that immunity wanes over the years,” Dr. Robin Cummings, Acting State Health Director and DHHS Deputy Secretary for Health Services, said in a press release. “A booster shot is a safe and effective way for adolescents and adults to protect themselves and those they love.”

Pertussis vaccine is available through all state immunization providers, including private health care providers and local health departments. Some health care providers may charge an administration fee.

You can find more information on the website Immunize.NC.gov ^[1].

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