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 for health agencies, community-based organizations, and other partners to recirculate existing messaging about the dangers of whooping cough and the importance of whooping cough vaccines. Messaging 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 our best protection against whooping cough, and experts attribute recent infectious disease outbreaks to low vaccination rates, which jeopardize herd immunity. The public may be unaware that 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. Emphasizing that both vaccines are safe, and most children who receive these vaccines don’t experience any side effects, is recommended. Additional steps to protect against whooping cough include wearing a mask around others who may be sick and practicing regular hand-washing. Pushing out messaging that outlines the symptoms of whooping cough is also recommended.