Protecting Your Newborn from Whooping Cough

Whooping cough cases for newborns are rising. If you are pregnant, your obstetrician is required under guidelines established by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to offer you the TDAP vaccine between the 27th and 36th weeks of your pregnancy. Why? Because the antibodies you generate from receiving the vaccine will pass to your baby in utero and protect the baby from tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) during the first two months of life since newborns cannot be vaccinated until they are two months old.

Whooping cough for newborns unprotected by the TDAP vaccine has a high rate of mortality. For those unvaccinated newborns who survive the ordeal of a lengthy hospitalization, many will have permanent and disabling injuries. These outcomes are preventable. It is true that the vaccine will not provide 100% protection from whooping cough, but for those newborns whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy, the vaccine provides a great measure of protection and outcomes are very good.

If you have a newborn who developed whooping cough in the first two months of life, and you were not offered the DTAP vaccine during your pregnancy, you should contact an attorney to discuss the matter. Reach out to Bill Maddix, your Minnesota Medical Malpractice Lawyer, for a free consultation at (612) 418-0263 or via email.