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Although rarely fatal, its lingering symptoms have earned it the moniker of the 100-day cough." The disease is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which emits toxins into a person's respiratory tract, making early treatment with antibiotics vital to managing the infection. As of December 20, the U.S. and its territories has seen 27,871 diagnosed cases of whooping cough so far this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year at this time, the number was 41,922, a staggering increase after four years of less than 10,000 cases annually during the peak of the COVID pandemic. The CDC has traditionally recommended these vaccinations from the age of two months, under the agency's guidelines, children should receive four doses in their first two years and a total of six doses before reaching age 13."