The Canadian Paediatric Society and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization strongly recommend routine immunization. Pertussis or whooping cough is a serious disease especially in children. Children who get this disease have spells of violent coughing. This cough can cause them to vomit or stop breathing for a short period of time. The cough can last for weeks and make it hard for a child to eat, drink or even breathe.
Pertussis can cause serious complications.
Pneumonia can occur in more than 2 out of 10 children with pertussis. It can also cause brain damage and death. These problems happen most often in babies. Pertussis spreads very easily from infected person to others through coughing or sneezing. Diphtheria is a serious disease of the nose, throat and skin.