Keri Russell signs on to be spokesperson for new baby health campaign

Pertussis, also knowns as whooping cough because of the “whoop” sound made when gasping for breath after a severe coughing attack, is a very contagious disease that is especially dangerous for young babies who have not been full immunized (which doesn't usually happen until around 18 months of age). Coughing can last for weeks and can be so severe that it is hard for babies to eat, drink or breathe.  In recent years, more than half of babies infected with pertussis were hospitalized, and 90% of pertussis-associated deaths have been among babies less than six month old.

Recent research has shown that more than 50% of infant cases of pertussis originated with one, or both, of the infant's parents.  Because Keri wants to make sure her 4 month old son, River Russell Deary, can't contract the disease unknowingly from her or her husband Shane Deary (whooping cough often presents itself like a cold in adults), she and her husband got vaccinated with the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) booster.  She now wants to encourage all other new parents to do the same.

As a new mom, Keri was moved to help PKIDs because she doesn't want to put her son at risk and said,

Like any parent, I would do anything to protect my baby, and that is why I followed my pediatrician’s recommendation to get the pertussis vaccine myself. I am very excited to be working with PKIDs to spread the word and help other parents learn how to best protect their babies from this deadly but preventable disease.

Dr. Gary Freed, Director of the Division of General Pediatrics at University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor and the chair of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, said,

Because immunity from early childhood vaccination decreases over time, adults and teens can become infected with pertussis repeatedly and transmit the disease unknowingly. A parent, grandparent or babysitter suffering from what seems like a cold can actually have pertussis and spread the disease to an infant.

Information about “Silence the Sounds of Pertussis” as well as educational materials about preventing and managing pertussis are available on PKIDs’ website at www.pkids.org. Click here to hear what the cough sounds like.

Will you ask your pediatrician about the vaccine for the adults in your family and caregivers?

DISCLAIMER: This posting was submitted by a user of the site not from The Insider editorial staff. All users have acknowledged and agreed that the submission of their story and its contents is in compliance with our Terms of Use.