A social media user with a large following posted a trending thread recognizing the importance of routine vaccines. The posts describe the user contracting pertussis, or whooping cough, as an adult after their childhood vaccine had lost effectiveness, concluding by emphasizing how dangerous pertussis is to children and that vaccines save lives.
Trending conversations about routine vaccines present an opportunity for public health officials to promote existing informational content. Talking points may explain that pertussis is a highly contagious and life-threatening illness, especially in babies. The CDC recommends that all infants and children under 7 be fully vaccinated against the disease, and that adults and teens receive boosters every 10 years.
