According to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine, the vaccine for pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is not as effective as experts once thought. The study shows efficacy rates fall from 95 to around 70 percent within five years of the last administered booster.
Associate Dean for Public Health Patrick Remington at the UW Madison says this new information means there will likely be changes to recommendations for when children are inoculated. "It may be time to revisit the schedule for the pertussis vaccine, perhaps a booster at eight and 10 years of age may be recommended to help increase the effectiveness, so that young adolescents don't become at risk and develop whooping cough."
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Currently children are given their last booster containing the vaccine before entering kindergarten.
Wisconsin has the highest number of whooping cough cases nationwide.
