The best way for adolescents and adults to protect themselves and others against pertussis is to get the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. The updated recommendations for use of the Tdap vaccine have been issued from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To boost their immunity to pertussis, all adolescents and adults are recommended to receive a one-time dose of Tdap vaccine. In October 2010, ACIP recommended the following 3 expanded uses of the Tdap vaccine: (1) Tdap may be given regardless of time since a person’s last tetanus- or diphtheria-containing vaccine; (2) adults aged 65 years and older (eg, grandparents, child-care providers, and healthcare practitioners) who have close contact with an infant should receive a single dose of Tdap; and (3) children ages 7 to 10 years old who are not fully vaccinated against pertussis should receive a single dose of Tdap.
(Source: CDC Division of News and Electronic Media, January 13, 2011)
