Whooping cough cases are on the rise. Health officials recommend keeping Tdap and DTaP vaccines up to date, especially for infants and pregnant people. (iStock photo by SilverV)
REDLANDS, Calif. — San Bernardino County health officials are urging residents to ensure their vaccinations are up to date as cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, have nearly tripled compared with last year.
Why it matters: Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection that spreads through respiratory droplets and can cause severe illness, especially in infants.
Details: The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health issued the alert Jan. 8, citing a surge in reported cases and warning that low vaccination rates, particularly among children, are increasing the risk of community spread.
Symptoms can last up to 10 weeks and may include:
Runny or stuffed-up nose
Low-grade fever (less than 100.4°F) or no fever
High-pitched “whoop” sound while breathing in after coughing
Vomiting during or after coughing fits
Fatigue following coughing fits
Difficulty sleeping
Breathing struggles
Possible rib fractures from severe coughing
Cyanosis (bluish color of lips, skin or nail beds)
Infants under 12 months, particularly newborns, face the highest risk of severe complications. County health officials strongly encourage pregnant individuals to receive the Tdap vaccine to help protect babies before they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves.
What they're saying: “Infants are especially vulnerable to severe disease, which is why timely vaccination is so important,” San Bernardino County Health Officer Dr. Sharon Wang said in a statement. “A single dose of Tdap during pregnancy can help protect newborns before they’re old enough to be vaccinated.”
Vaccination recommendations: Health officials say vaccination is the most effective way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death from pertussis. Pregnant people are advised to receive a Tdap booster during the third trimester of each pregnancy, between 27 and 36 weeks, to pass protective antibodies to the baby before birth.
Children are recommended to receive five doses of the DTaP vaccine at 2, 4, 6 and 15 months, and again between ages 4 and 6. Preteens and teens age 11 and older should receive a Tdap booster, while adults should receive at least one dose if they have not previously been vaccinated, followed by a booster every 10 years.
County health officials also recommend preventative measures such as frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when sick and seeking medical care if pertussis is suspected.
Residents can schedule Tdap or DTaP vaccination appointments through their primary care provider, a local pharmacy, or by visiting myturn.ca.gov.
A former local TV news producer, Stephanie launched CFR in 2023. Originally from Michigan, she’s made Redlands home with her husband and three kids. When she’s not reporting, she’s problem-solving at the climbing gym or trying new local restaurants.
