Why are whooping cough cases increasing in the US?

Whooping cough cases are rising due to a significant decrease in childhood vaccination rates nationwide.

What is the CDC's recommendation for preventing whooping cough?

The CDC recommends vaccination for all ages, particularly the DTaP vaccine for young children.

How has vaccine skepticism affected childhood immunizations?

Increased vaccine skepticism since the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to a decline in childhood vaccination rates for various illnesses.

Home / Health / Whooping Cough Surges as Vaccinations Plummet

Whooping Cough Surges as Vaccinations Plummet

18 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Whooping cough cases are increasing as childhood vaccination rates decline.
Roughly 70 percent of counties fell below the 95% vaccination target.
Vaccine skepticism, rising during the pandemic, is linked to this trend.

Whooping Cough Surges as Vaccinations Plummet

Whooping cough, a severe respiratory illness, is experiencing a resurgence due to declining vaccination rates among children in the United States. As of December 6, 2025, a concerning number of cases have been reported, significantly higher than in previous years. This surge is directly linked to a drop in DTaP vaccination coverage, with approximately 70 percent of counties failing to meet the crucial 95 percent target.

The investigation highlighted that more than 75 percent of counties have seen declining DTaP vaccination rates since 2019. This situation reflects a broader national trend of decreased childhood immunization for various diseases, a pattern exacerbated by growing vaccine skepticism that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public health officials emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure against whooping cough for all age groups. The DTaP vaccine, protecting against pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus, is recommended for young children. However, overall childhood vaccine coverage for DTaP, polio, varicella, and MMR has decreased in over half of the states compared to the previous school year.