Whooping cough cases have surged to over 25,000 in 2025, revealing how declining vaccination rates are putting American children at deadly risk, while the previous administration’s policies contributed to weakening public health preparedness.
Story Highlights
- Over 25,000 cases of whooping cough were recorded in 2025, significantly above pre-pandemic levels.
- Vaccination rates dropped from 95% pre-pandemic to just 92.1% during the 2024-25 school year.
- Multiple child deaths have been reported in Louisiana and Washington state this year.
- Cases remain elevated for the second consecutive year, indicating an ongoing public health crisis.
Vaccination Rates Declining Puts Children at Risk
CDC data reveal a troubling drop in whooping cough vaccination rates among kindergarteners, falling from approximately 95% during the 2019-2020 school year to just 92.1% in 2024-25.
This decline directly correlates with the surge in cases, demonstrating how reduced immunization coverage creates dangerous vulnerabilities in community protection. The steady decrease in vaccination rates represents a failure of public health messaging and policies that should prioritize protecting our most vulnerable citizens – children.
Waning immunity and falling vaccination rates fuel pertussis outbreaks
— In the first 3 months of 2025, the U.S. tallied 6,600 cases — four times last year's pace. #RSNA25 https://t.co/0LhRL999NR— Ian Weissman, DO (@DrIanWeissman) November 24, 2025
Disease Surge Exceeds Historical Patterns
The 25,000 cases recorded in 2025 mark the second consecutive year of elevated whooping cough infections, following 2024, which reported around 33,000 cases. These numbers far exceed the 18,600 cases documented in 2019, before pandemic disruptions.
The last comparable outbreak occurred in 2014 with over 32,900 cases, indicating current levels represent a significant public health emergency requiring immediate attention from the Trump administration.
Deadly Consequences for America’s Children
Whooping cough poses extreme danger to babies and young children, with several deaths already recorded this year in Louisiana and Washington state.
The highly contagious respiratory illness, caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria, spreads through coughing and sneezing, with infected individuals remaining contagious for weeks without knowing they carry the disease. Early symptoms mimic those of a common cold, progressing to violent coughing fits lasting up to 12 weeks, making early detection challenging.
Vaccine Success Story Threatened by Complacency
Historical data demonstrate vaccines’ remarkable effectiveness against whooping cough, reducing annual cases by over 90% since their introduction in the late 1940s. Before vaccination programs, an estimated 200,000 children contracted whooping cough annually, with up to 9,000 deaths each year.
Two vaccines currently protect against the disease: DTaP for children under seven and Tdap for older children, adults, and pregnant women. The current surge threatens to reverse decades of progress in protecting American families.
The Trump administration now inherits a public health challenge that demands swift action to restore vaccination confidence and strengthen community immunity.
Parents must understand that choosing vaccination protects not only their own children but also vulnerable infants too young for immunization, embodying the conservative principle of personal responsibility extending to community protection.
