Tdap: The Need to Educate and Immunize

The resurgence of pertussis is puzzling, especially given the requirement that children complete recommended immunizations prior to school entry. Are adult carriers unknowingly infecting children? What do adult caregivers know about pertussis and the tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster vaccine? How can the incidence of pertussis in children younger than 2 years, a group most at risk for complications of the disease, be reduced? This article examines the incidence of pertussis and strategies to reduce pertussis incidence in the United States. If the need for Tdap vaccine is identified and favorably received by adults, immunization programs can be arranged at worksites to better protect infants who are most at risk for pertussis.