Pertussis vaccination (pertussis vaccine) is the most important and effective preventive measure. Adults should receive the Tdap combination vaccine once at the next Td vaccination due (see pertussis vaccination below). Furthermore, to prevent pertussis, care must be taken to reduce risk factors.
Behavioral risk factors
- Avoid contact with infected persons during the phase of infection. This phase begins in the catarrhale stage (characterized by symptoms of influenza) and ends three weeks after the onset of the convulsivum stage (characterized by episodic coughing attacks). The infection occurs via droplet infection.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
Post-exposure prophylaxis is the provision of medication to prevent disease in individuals who are not protected against a particular disease by vaccination but have been exposed to it. For more information, see “Drug therapy.”
