As state health departments wait for the first shipments of the H1N1 vaccine to arrive, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is asking people to be on their guard against another public health threat: whooping cough, also known as pertussis. A highly contagious respiratory disease, whooping cough can start with cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose and sneezing, then develops into a severe cough and may even lead to pneumonia.

Fortunately the Tdap (tetanus, diptheria and pertussis) vaccine is already available, but most people who've gotten vaccinated as children are unaware that their immunity wears off in the next 5 to 10 years after completion of childhood vaccinations. A recent AAFP survey revealed that 76 percent of adults didn't know that whooping cough remains widespread, and 61 percent didn't know a vaccine for whooping cough was available. "Patients should ask their doctors about getting a Tdap vaccine to boost their immune system. It's not a disease of the past, but very much a disease of the present," says Ted Epperly, M.D., president of the AAFP.

Children under 6 months are especially at particular risk of infection, and they need three shots at age 2, 4 and 6 months (for a total of 5 vaccines up to the age of 6). Pregnant women, family members and other members in the same household as infants should also be vaccinated. Both the CDC and the AAFP recommend that most teens and adults should get the Tdap booster vaccine to replace Td for continued protection against whooping cough if they have not been previously vaccinated with Tdap or if their shots are not up-to-date. The Td booster vaccine should follow every 10 years.

Besides whooping cough, what other vaccinations should adults get?

• Annual influenza vaccine (see who needs the 2009 H1N1 vaccine)
  
• Pneumovax vaccine, for protection against pneumococcal pneumonia, starting at age 65.
• Zoster vaccine, for protection against shingles, starting at age 60.
  
  

Protect yourself from cold and flu
More on adult and child immunizations
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