Subtitle: Can you still get whooping cough if vaccinated?
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a contagious respiratory infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It is most commonly seen in young children, but adults can also be affected. Vaccination is the best way to protect against whooping cough, but it is possible to still get the infection even if you are vaccinated.
There are two types of vaccines that can help protect against whooping cough: the acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine and the whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine. The aP vaccine is the most commonly used in the United States and is the only type recommended for adolescents and adults.
The aP vaccine is very effective in preventing whooping cough, but it is not 100% effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the aP vaccine is 80 to 85% effective at preventing disease in those who are fully vaccinated. This means that even if you are vaccinated, you can still get whooping cough.
Herd immunity is also a factor when it comes to whooping cough. Herd immunity is the concept that when enough of a population is vaccinated, it reduces the risk of disease for those who are not vaccinated. This is because the fewer people who are susceptible to the infection, the less likely it is to spread.
The CDC recommends that at least 80% of children and adults be vaccinated against whooping cough in order to achieve herd immunity. If the vaccination rate is lower than this, it is more likely that people will get whooping cough even if they are vaccinated.
In conclusion, it is possible to still get whooping cough even if you are vaccinated. Vaccines are very effective at preventing the disease, but they are not 100% effective. Additionally, herd immunity plays a role in whooping cough, and if the vaccination rate is not high enough, people are more likely to get the infection even if they are vaccinated.