In late March, the Louisiana surgeon general announced that two children died of whooping cough (pertussis) in the state in the last six months, and 110 cases have been reported so far this year. The announcement came a month after the state suspended all vaccine events and barred state health officials from promoting vaccinations. Whooping cough cases in 2024 were the highest in over a decade, and this year, nearly four times as many cases have been reported compared to the same time last year. Some social media users speculated that the number of cases is likely higher than reported and criticized parents who don’t vaccinate their children. Other posts advocated for a standalone vaccine for people who want to avoid the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis combination vaccine, while others questioned DTAP’s safety and effectiveness. Several commenters expressed concern about getting DTAP during pregnancy.
Recommendation
Vaccine opponents frequently use active outbreaks to spread false claims about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Prebunking messaging may explain that whooping cough is an extremely contagious and potentially deadly disease that causes complications in two-thirds of affected infants. Messaging may also emphasize that the DTAP vaccine is effective and safe for infants and pregnant people.
Fact-checking sources: National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
