7.12.05

A new whooping cough booster vaccine, which could help older children has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

In response to the increase in incidences of whooping cough in recent years, the FDA has approved a second booster vaccine for the disease. Dr. Subhash C. Chaudhary, professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, explains why a second booster of the vaccine is being recommended.

SOUND BITE: " . . . we have found that immunity due to whooping cough vaccine given to young children doesn’t last very long. As they reach the adolescent period and young adulthood immunity wanes in many, many of them so they can get the disease."

Dr. Chaudhary says many times when adolescents and young adults get whooping cough, they have a milder form of the disease with frequent prolonged cough as the only symptom. The disease may not be diagnosed and they can pass it on to infants and young children, who are affected more severely. Some babies even die from whooping cough. He says the new booster vaccine will likely be recommended for children at the age of eleven years.

SOUND BITE: ". . . the new whooping cough vaccine is combined with diptheria and tetanus vaccine as the childhood vaccines are. So rather than having an extra visit, this will be with the visit for getting tetanus booster so at the same time as tetanus, diptheria and whooping cough vaccine all in one vaccine will be given."

Dr. Chaudhary says the new whooping cough vaccine is expected to be available within the next few months. Parents should talk to their primary care physician or pediatrician for more information about the vaccine.