The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a marked increase in the number of pertussis or "whooping cough" cases in California and has declared a statewide epidemic. In response, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommends that all Californians be immunized against pertussis, especially if they are in contact with infants. While providing birthing hospitals with vaccines for administration to the newborn and parents, the CDPH has also issued new recommendations for health care providers to assist in this effort.  Please carefully review these important recommendations for specific patient populations.

The CDC recommends that adolescents and adults, 19 to 64 years of age, be revaccinated with a Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) booster, even if they were completely vaccinated as children.  In adults, the Tdap booster should replace routine booster doses of Td that adults should receive every 10 years.

Before you provide the Tdap vaccine to a parent or family member of your pediatric patient, you should do the following: 

1.  Provide the adult or parent with a copy of the updated Tdap Vaccination Information Sheet (VIS).

2.  Review the CDPH Pertussis Vaccination Recommendations 2010.

3.  Ask the patient to complete a questionnaire/consent form. Attached is a sample screening questionnaire prepared from the VIS.

4.  Place a copy of the completed questionnaire/consent form in the medical record of your pediatric patient, in an appropriately labeled section, for future reference.

If you would like to post whooping cough information in your office, see the following website.  

If you have any questions, please use the "Contact Us" button at the left or call our Risk Management Hotline at 800-252-0555.

Ann Whitehead, RN, JD

CAP Risk Management & Patient Safety Department

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