Whooping cough and the price of vaccine hesitancy
The widespread use of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines, which protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis had driven whooping cough (pertussis) to the brink of extinction in the US. “The DTaP vaccine has been a cornerstone of childhood vaccination programs for decades, significantly reducing the incidence of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Pertussis, in particular, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can cause severe, life-threatening complications in young children, especially infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated. Before widespread vaccination, whooping cough epidemics were a regular occurrence, with thousands of deaths reported each year. “Today, the vaccine is highly effective, with studies showing up to 90% effectiveness in preventing severe cases of pertussis in fully vaccinated children. The urgency to address vaccine hesitancy cannot be overstated. The U.S. is returning to pre-pandemic patterns, wher...