Kentucky loses third baby to whooping cough, urges parents to vaccinate

According to state officials, none of the infants who died had been vaccinated, nor had their mothers.

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Kentucky health officials announced heartbreaking news today: another infant has died from pertussis- more commonly known as whooping cough- marking the third such death in the state in the last 12 months.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health confirmed that none of the three infants who died had received the whooping cough vaccine, and neither had their mothers. These are Kentucky's first pertussis deaths since 2018, making the recent cluster particularly alarming for public health officials.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of another infant death in Kentucky due to pertussis," said Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. He stressed that the volume of cases across the commonwealth has officials concerned and pushing harder for vaccination.

The numbers paint a troubling picture. As of November 19, Kentucky has reported 566 whooping cough cases, the largest spike since 2012. Health officials expect that number to climb in the final weeks of the year.

Why this matters

Pertussis is highly contagious and particularly dangerous for the most vulnerable: babies under one year old face the greatest risk. The disease has been increasing across the United States, driven in part by declining vaccination rates.

The vaccine data from Kentucky schools underscores the problem. Only 86% of kindergarteners and 85% of seventh graders are current on their required whooping cough vaccines, according to the 2024-2025 school immunization survey.

Protection starts early

The Tdap or DTaP vaccine protects against three bacterial infections: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Infants can start receiving the DTaP vaccine at just two months old, but there's an even earlier line of defense.

Pregnant women are strongly encouraged to get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy. This provides crucial early protection for babies before they're old enough to be vaccinated themselves-a recommendation that could have made a difference in these three tragic cases.

What parents need to watch for

Whooping cough often starts with symptoms that resemble a common cold, like a runny or congested nose and mild coughing. But after one to two weeks, the cough can escalate dramatically into rapid, violent coughing fits. These may produce the characteristic "whooping" sound as the person gasps for air, and can be severe enough to cause vomiting or labored breathing.

Beyond vaccination, basic prevention measures remain important: frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick.

A preventable tragedy

The fact that these three deaths were entirely preventable makes them all the more devastating. With vaccination rates lagging and cases surging, Kentucky health officials continue urging families to ensure everyone- from pregnant women to school-age children to adults- stays up to date on their pertussis immunizations.

For parents and caregivers, the message is clear: protecting the youngest and most vulnerable starts with vaccination.

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