Immunizations are generally reserved for children as most adults believe that they're still protected with the vaccines they received as children. In some cases, this is true, but it's not the case with pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. If you're a new parent, it would be wise to get a Tdap vaccine, which increases your protection against whooping cough, as well as several other diseases. Encourage other people who spend a lot of time with your baby to also get vaccinated to further protect your little one.

What is the Tdap?

The Tdap is a booster vaccine designed for people who received their original pertussis vaccine long enough ago that protection has waned. In addition to vaccinating against pertussis, the Tdap also increases adult protection against tetanus and diphtheria, too.

Dangers of Pertussis for Infants

Whooping cough is a respiratory illness that can interfere with breathing and leads to hospitalization in about half of all cases. Pertussis is particularly dangerous for infants because they are more susceptible to the complications of the illness. Infants are more likely to develop severe breathing problems, including the shortness of breath that produces the "whooping" sound the illness got its name from. Babies are also more likely to develop pneumonia, convulsions,  and brain damage if they are infected with the pertussis bacteria. Whooping cough can be deadly for infants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Who Needs the Tdap?

New parents and pregnant women, should consider the Tdap vaccine because it reduces the risk that they'll be infected and pass it to their unprotected infant. Babies can't get their first dose of pertussis vaccine until they are 2 months old, which leaves them vulnerable during the first few weeks after birth. Grandparents and other adults, such as babysitters or nannies, who will be spending a lot of time with your new baby should also be vaccinated. After all, four out of five babies who contract whooping cough catch it from someone at home. This includes older brothers and sisters who received the vaccine 10 or more years ago.

Your Baby and the Pertussis Vaccine

Your baby needs five doses to be fully protected against pertussis. The first dose is given at 2 months of age, followed by another at 4 months of age and another at 6 months of age. Your baby will receive the fourth dose between the ages of 15 and 18 months and the final dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years. For more information, talk to a professional like The Pediatric Center.