Do you know which childhood diseases the DTaP vaccine helps prevent? Answer: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (also called whooping cough).
Dr. Georgina Peacock
Director, Immunization Services Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
If you didn’t know the answer, you’re not alone! Childhood vaccinations like DTaP have been so successful in preventing serious illness and death from once common diseases that many of us are unfamiliar with their names or symptoms.
Making sure your child receives all the recommended vaccinations is important for keeping them healthy. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that fewer kindergarten children are getting vaccinated compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that around 250,000 kindergartners may not have full protection against serious diseases.
Parents can help ensure their child is protected from serious diseases like measles, which can spread easily in school settings, by talking to a healthcare provider about recommended vaccines.
Here are some of the childhood diseases recommended vaccinations offer protection against:
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection of the nose and throat — and sometimes skin — that that can cause difficulty breathing. In more serious cases, diphtheria can cause heart damage, heart failure, and nerve damage.
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a very contagious bacterial infection of the lungs. Pertussis usually starts with cold-like symptoms but can become very serious. Someone with whooping cough may experience extreme coughing, which can result in vomiting and exhaustion. Babies and young children may not cough at all but may have difficulty breathing instead.
Polio
Polio is caused by poliovirus, a viral infection of the nerves and brain. Poliovirus can cause life-long paralysis and can be life-threatening.
Measles
Measles is highly contagious and can be serious. Measles can cause high fever, cough, runny nose, rash, and red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). A person with measles can infect up to 9 out of 10 people around them if they have not been vaccinated against measles. Measles can cause serious health complications like encephalitis, especially in children younger than 5 years old.
Most kids don’t know about these diseases. Let’s keep it that way. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about recommended childhood vaccines.
