For Healthcare Professionals
The following materials focus on pertussis awareness and diagnosis, vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations, and how to collect laboratory specimens.
Continuing Education Opportunity
Prevention of Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria with Vaccinesexternal icon
CE Released 6/8/2018
This report compiles and summarizes recommendations from CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices regarding prevention and control of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in the United States.
Provide the Best Prenatal Care to Prevent Pertussis pdf icon[1.31 MB, 2 pages]
This fact sheet highlights five facts all prenatal healthcare professionals should know about Tdap and pregnancy. It also provides resources to help healthcare professionals strongly recommend Tdap to their pregnant patients during the third trimester of each pregnancy.
Making a Strong Vaccine Referral to Pregnant Women pdf icon[1.02 MB, 2 pages]
This fact sheet offers tips for how to make a strong referral to your pregnant patients to help ensure that they get recommended vaccines. It is designed for healthcare professionals who are not able to stock and administer Tdap or influenza vaccines in their office.
- Order free small quantities (CDC-INFO product #221897).
General
Vaccine Information Statements
Get the current vaccine information statement (VIS) for vaccines that protect against pertussis (DTaP and Tdap).
Pertussis Testing Video: Collecting a Nasopharyngeal Swab Clinical Specimen
(4:12 minutes, Date Released: 2/14/2011)
This video demonstrates proper techniques for collecting and transporting a pertussis clinical specimen obtained by swabbing the posterior nasopharynx.
Pertussis Testing Video: Collecting a Nasopharyngeal Aspirate Clinical Specimen
(4:14 minutes, Date Released: 2/14/2011)
This video demonstrates proper techniques for collecting and transporting a pertussis clinical specimen from the posterior nasopharynx obtained by aspiration.
Pertussis Sounds
People with this disease can cough violently and rapidly, over and over, until the air is gone from their lungs and they are forced to inhale with a loud “whooping” sound. Pertussis is worse for very young children. Also, it is important to know that not everyone with pertussis coughs or “whoops”.
Hear how pertussis sounds in a childexternal icon
(00:26 seconds)
CDC Commentary — Best Prenatal Care to Prevent Pertussisexternal icon
(4:54 minutes, Date Released: 03/02/2015)
Tips on how you can help prevent pertussis by ensuring that pregnant women receive the Tdap vaccine.
CDC Commentary — Considerations for Antimicrobial Prophylaxis after Exposure to Pertussisexternal icon
(4:05 minutes, Date Released: 01/21/2014)
Stay up-to-date on when to use antimicrobial prophylaxis after someone is exposed to pertussis.
CDC Commentary — Protect Patients from Deadly Pertussis: Updated Vaccine Guidelinesexternal icon
(5:59 minutes, Date Released: 03/11/2013)
Learn the latest vaccine recommendations for preventing pertussis from infancy through adulthood.
CDC Commentary — Pertussis Diagnosis: Avoid the Pitfalls of PCRexternal icon
(5:44 minutes, Date Released: 02/28/2011)
Learn how to optimize the use of PCR testing for pertussis by avoiding some of the more common pitfalls leading to inaccurate results.
Tdap Vaccination in Pregnancy: A Mother’s Gift to Her Babyexternal icon
Members of ACOG’s Immunization Expert Work Group explain the importance of immunizing patients, especially pregnant women during the 3rd trimester, with Tdap.