FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY — Kentucky health officials confirmed Monday that an unvaccinated infant has died from whooping cough, marking the state’s third infant death from the illness in the past year. The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) said both the child and the mother were unvaccinated, mirroring two fatal cases reported in June — the first infant pertussis deaths in the state since 2018.
As of Nov. 19, Kentucky has recorded 566 whooping cough cases this year, surpassing last year’s total of 543 and reaching levels not seen since 2012. Infants under 1 remain at the highest risk for severe complications.
Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, expressed deep concern about rising case numbers and urged residents to stay up to date on vaccinations. He emphasized that pertussis is preventable through the DTaP and Tdap vaccines, which protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.
KDPH recommends that infants receive their first DTaP dose at 2 months and continue with doses at 4 months, 6 months, and between 12 and 15 months. Pregnant women are advised to receive a Tdap shot to help protect newborns. Children entering kindergarten and middle school must also meet vaccine requirements.
Despite statewide mandates, only 86% of kindergartners and 85% of seventh graders were fully vaccinated during the 2024–25 school year.
According to the CDC, babies hospitalized with whooping cough often face serious complications, including apnea, pneumonia, convulsions, and, in rare cases, encephalopathy.
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