My speech for COMM111.

1. To get the shot or not..
Jaime Frasieur

3. • What is • Who’s at • What can
Pertussis? Risk? we do?

4. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a
potentially deadly bacterial infection that
can strike at any age, but is particularly
dangerous for babies. The sounds of pertussis
are like no other, marked by a “whoop” made
when gasping for breath after a severe
coughing attack.
cdc.gov

5.  Pertussis can be a serious illness, particularly for
babies and young children. More than 50% of
babies with reported cases of pertussis must be
hospitalized. Coughing can be so severe that it is
hard for babies to eat, drink or breathe.
 Babies may bleed behind the eyes and in the
brain from coughing.
 The most common complication is bacterial
pneumonia. About 1 child in 10 with pertussis
also gets pneumonia, and about 1 in every 50
will have convulsions.
 Brain damage occurs in 1 out of every 250
children who get pertussis.
 Pertussis causes about 10-20 deaths each year in
the United States.
cdc.gov

6. 6000
5000
4000
3000 Oregon
Washington
2000
1000
0
2010 2011 2012
Oregon Health Department
Washington Department of Health Services

7.  Infants less than six months old
 adolescents
 young adults

8. Whooping cough is thought to be on the rise
for two main reasons. The whooping cough
vaccine you receive as a child eventually wears
off. This leaves most teenagers and adults
susceptible to the infection during an outbreak
— and there continue to be regular outbreaks.
In addition, children aren't fully immune to
whooping cough until they've received at least
three shots, leaving those 6 months and
younger at greatest risk of contracting the
infection.
Mayo Clinic

9. WHO DO WE
KNOW THAT
IS AT RISK???

12. The best way to prevent
whooping cough is with the
pertussis vaccine, which doctors
often give in combination with
vaccines against two other
serious diseases — diphtheria and
tetanus. Doctors recommend
beginning vaccination during
infancy.

13.  Adolescents. Because immunity from the pertussis
vaccine tends to wane by age 11, doctors recommend
a booster shot at that age to protect against
whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria and tetanus.
 Adults. Some varieties of the every-10-year tetanus
and diphtheria vaccine also include protection
against whooping cough (pertussis). In addition to
protecting you against whooping cough, this vaccine
will also reduce the risk of your transmitting
whooping cough to infants.
 Pregnant women. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention now recommends that pregnant
women receive the pertussis vaccine after 20 weeks
gestation. This may also give some protection to the
infant during the first few months of life.

14.  Oregon Health Department
 Washington Department of Health Services
 Mayo Clinic
 CDC