Panel: Seniors Should Get Whooping Cough Shots

Tools

By Associated Press

Story Created: Feb 22, 2012 at 5:17 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 22, 2012 at 5:17 PM CDT

ATLANTA (AP) - A federal advisory panel is recommending that all Americans age 65 and older get vaccinated against whooping cough.

Health officials believe whooping cough is underreported in older adults. But a goal of Wednesday's recommendation is to prevent older adults from spreading the disease to infants, who are most vulnerable.

The shot is already recommended for younger adults and a whooping cough vaccine is included in childhood shots.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial disease that in rare cases can be fatal. It leads to severe coughing that causes children to make a distinctive whooping sound as they gasp for breath.

Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are usually adopted by the government, which sends the guidance out to doctors.

Current Weather

Marion Regional
Current: 70°
Clear
High: 84°
Low: 57°
Wind: 5 MPH
Pressure: 0.00
Humidity: 40 %
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

What's on WSILTV Full Schedule