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A five-week-old infant from the Jerusalem area has died of pertussis, the Health Ministry reported on Tuesday. The baby’s mother did not receive the recommended DTaP vaccination during pregnancy, according to an epidemiological investigation.
The DTaP vaccination protects newborns until they are old enough to receive their own vaccinations. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly dangerous illness for young infants and can cause serious complications or death.
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Since January 2023, pertussis rates in Israel have been increasing. In response, the Health Ministry has advised that the first pertussis vaccine can be given at six weeks of age instead of eight weeks to better protect young infants.
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