Amy Pisani: Pertussis also known as whooping cough is the only vaccine-preventable disease that is on the rise in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the reporting of pertussis is quite low and that in fact up to one million cases of pertussis circulate annually. Dr. Paul Offit: Right now we are in the midst of the whooping cough epidemic in California. It's the biggest epidemic we have seen since 1955. I mean there were 10 children who have died of pertussis, died of a disease that is preventable by vaccines because some people are choosing not to get them. Amy Pisani: Infants and children with pertussis cough violently over and over again until the air is gone from their lungs and they're forced to inhale with a loud "whooping" sound. The frightening fact is that over 75% of infants who contract pertussis are infected by their own family members and half of the infants less than one year of age who contracts pertussis require hospitalization. The best way to keep your children safe from pertussis is to vaccinate them and everyone around them. Dr. Paul Offit: Babies get a vaccine called DTaP which stands for diphtheria (D), tetanus (T) and then acellular pertussis (aP) of this whooping cough and you get it in 2 months, 4 months, 6 months again and at between the first and second year of life and then again between 4 and 5 years of age. Amy Pisani: Since immunity from childhood vaccine grows less over time, pre-teens, teens and adults are also recommended to get vaccinated against pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria. The vaccine for these age groups is called Tdap. This vaccine is particularly important for new parents, caregivers and families of newborns. Women who are considering becoming pregnant should talk to their doctor about a Tdap vaccination. To keep your family members and your community safe from pertussis, make certain you and your loved ones are up to date with vaccinations. Please talk to your doctor to determine if your family members are in need of a Tdap booster.