How Effective Are Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccines? (0:28)
The pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine is very effective, but immunity may wane over time for some, so it's important to get immunized as an adult. Watch pediatrician Lisa Thornton, MD, explain what you should know about vaccinations for pertussis.
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The pertussis vaccine is very effective, the immunity does wean over time for many people, so you get pertussis vaccine as a baby, age two, four and six months, ages 15 to 18 to months and then again at four to six years, and then as an adult you should get at least one A-cellular pertussis vaccine again, so you are supposed to be getting your tetanus booster about every ten years, one of those can be a pertussis.
Lisa Thornton, MD, is a practicing pediatrician and a frequent television health commentator. She is the Medical Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation for KidsRehab and an assistant professor at the University of Chicago.
