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1914Whooping cough

History of whooping cough: Outbreaks and vaccine timeline

Learn about the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine and its impact.

The bacteria that causes whooping cough

Whooping cough

The bacteria that causes whooping cough

1914

A whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine is licensed in the U.S.

1948

In the U.S., the whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria and tetanus vaccines are combined into one licensed vaccine called the diphtheria, tetanus toxoid and whole-cell pertussis (DTP) vaccine.

1991

The diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine is licensed. This vaccine is an acellular vaccine, which causes fewer side effects than the whole-cell DTP vaccine. The DTaP vaccine eventually replaces the DTP vaccine. In 1996, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will recommend DTaP in infants.

About 200,000 cases of whooping cough (pertussis) occurred each year in the U.S. in the 20th century compared with about 5,000 cases in 2020. Likewise, about 21,000 annual cases of diphtheria occurred each year in the U.S. compared with none in 2020.

2006

ACIP recommends that teens get a booster dose of the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.

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