Wisconsin whooping cough guidance causes controversy

Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) announced that as of July 1, the state had 126 cases of whooping cough—more than double the number of cases last year—and recommended that residents stay up to date on whooping cough vaccines. WDHS shared its recommendations on social media, where one respondent called the whooping cough outbreak a “scam,” and another recommended herbal remedies for whooping cough. Others made false claims that vaccines are unsafe. One user asked what people who are allergic to whooping cough vaccines should do.

Recommendation: WDHS’s recommendations and trending conversations about whooping cough provide an opportunity to educate Wisconsin patients about the disease and the vaccines that protect against it. Talking points may emphasize that pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease that can cause severe illness and death, particularly in babies and young children. Babies who contract whooping cough may develop pneumonia, have seizures, or suffer brain damage. Vaccination remains the best protection against whooping cough. Experts attribute recent infectious disease outbreaks to low vaccination rates, which jeopardize herd immunity. Two types of vaccines protect against whooping cough: Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines are recommended for babies and children younger than 7 years old; and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines are recommended for children aged 7 and older. Those over the age of 7 should receive a pertussis vaccine booster every 10 years. Both vaccines are safe, and most children who receive these vaccines don’t experience any side effects. If needed, explain to patients who cannot safely receive a whooping cough vaccine that they can protect against the disease by wearing a mask around others who may be sick and practicing regular hand-washing.