Whooping cough vaccination

A whooping cough epidemic was recently declared in California, with 910 recorded cases of whooping cough and 5 infant deaths reported as of June 15.
Whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial disease, also known as pertussis, is generally a minor disease for adults but can be a very unpleasant, and even deadly, disease in infants and children.

Public health officials say California's lackluster immunization rates could be a factor in the epidemic spread of whooping cough, a bacterial disease expected to take its largest toll in the state in five decades.

California is one of only 11 states that does not require middle school students to receive a booster shot against whooping cough.