Kentucky health officials urge vaccines after infant deaths

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Health officials are urging Kentuckians to remain up to date on immunizations after two infants died from whooping cough.
On Friday, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said two infants have died from pertussis, whooping cough, in Kentucky in the last six months.
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Kentucky health officials urge vaccines after infant deaths
The cabinet said both infants and their mothers were not immunized against whooping cough.
These were the first pertussis-related deaths in Kentucky since 2018.
'Anyone can get whooping cough, but infants are at greatest risk for life-threatening illness,' Kentucky Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said. 'Fortunately, when vaccinations are administered to pregnant women, it provides protection to both the mother and the baby.'
In July 2024, officials announced that whooping cough cases had begun increasing in Kentucky to levels not seen in over a decade. There were 543 cases of whooping cough reported in Kentucky in 2024, the highest number of cases in the commonwealth since 2012.
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The cabinet said 247 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Kentucky this year, with officials anticipating cases increasing during the summer and fall, based on historic trends.
FOX 56 chief medical contributor, Dr. Ryan Stanton, said whooping cough cases often show up in clusters throughout the year.
Many U.S. states and other countries are also experiencing elevated levels of whooping cough.
According to the Centers of Disease Control, early symptoms are usually mild, like a cold, and can include a runny nose, a low fever, and a mild cough.
The CDC said those symptoms usually progress into many rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched 'whooping,' vomiting, and general exhaustion. The coughing can continue for up to 10 weeks or more.
Babies may experience pauses in breathing rather than the signature whooping cough.
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The health department is asking parents to be sure school-age children have up-to-date vaccines.
'The vaccine's immunity tends to decrease over time, making the booster important for older children and adults, so talk to your provider to find out if you need a new dose!' the health department said.
Anyone exposed to pertussis should get tested, officials said.
Stanton said that whooping cough is high-risk for newborns and the elderly, but most cases are found in upper-middle and lower-high-school-age children. That's why he said up-to-date Tdap vaccinations are key.
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'The tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis, this is the one you get when you cut yourself,' he said. 'But unfortunately, you know, we get them pretty regularly as children as we grow. But once we're an adult, we're not as prone to accidents. We don't cut ourselves quite as much. So, many people haven't had that up to date.'
The pertussis immunization is given in combination with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines (DTaP and Tdap) and is required for Kentucky school children.
Data from the 2045-2025 Kentucky school immunization survey shows that only 86% of kindergarteners and 85% of seventh graders are up to date on their required pertussis immunizations.
With every pregnancy, to protect babies
Infants at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months old
Children, before starting kindergarten
Teens between 11 to 12 years old
Teens and adults every 10 years or sooner if an injury occurs
Health care providers said early detection, with proper testing, is critical to prevent further spread.
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