America faces a resurgence of whooping cough, with record outbreaks exposing cracks in public health policy and sparking renewed debate over parental rights, government mandates, and the actual costs of the chaotic leadership of recent years.
Story Snapshot
- Whooping cough cases have surged nationwide, especially in Texas, Florida, and California, with over 6,600 cases reported in early 2025 alone.
- Falling childhood vaccination rates and increased nonmedical exemptions are fueling the outbreaks, leaving babies most at risk.
- Recent state laws easing vaccine mandates highlight ongoing tensions between government overreach and parental rights.
- Health officials warn of additional threats, including waning immunity, delayed reporting, and emerging antibiotic resistance.
Whooping Cough Outbreaks Surge as Immunity Gaps Widen
Rates of pertussis, better known as whooping cough, are soaring across the United States in 2025, with states like Texas, Florida, and California reporting their highest case numbers in over a decade.
In just the first three months of the year, the country logged 6,600 cases—four times last year’s pace. Texas alone surpassed 3,500 cases by October, nearly doubling its 2024 total. This surge is not isolated; outbreaks have been reported from Louisiana to Idaho, signaling a national issue that cannot be ignored.
Falling vaccination rates since the pandemic, combined with growing nonmedical exemptions, have dramatically expanded immunity gaps in young children.
Until recently, 80% of toddlers received the recommended DTaP series by age two, but these numbers have dropped. The result: infants too young to be fully vaccinated now face the greatest risk, with some requiring hospital care and tragically, about 1% of hospitalized cases resulting in death.
Whooping cough outbreaks surge, fueled by waning immunity and falling vaccination rates https://t.co/nP1Sk8Mui5
— CBSColorado (@CBSNewsColorado) November 19, 2025
Policy Shifts: Parental Rights Versus Public Health Mandates
The uptick in exemptions is closely tied to state-level policy changes. In Texas, lawmakers passed a law allowing parents to download nonmedical exemption forms directly online, bypassing health departments and making exemptions harder to track.
This move was hailed by parental rights advocates as a win against government overreach but has drawn criticism from public health officials who fear it will further erode vaccination rates in schools.
Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Phil Huang has already noted a dramatic drop in back-to-school vaccinations, with the full impact of the new law yet to be seen.
Some local health officials point to additional barriers, such as fears of immigration enforcement among Hispanic families, which may discourage them from seeking vaccinations.
These complications underscore how government policy, both state and federal, can directly impact the health choices and risks faced by American families.
Waning Immunity and the Legacy of Past Vaccine Policies
The current surge is also fueled by the limitations of today’s vaccines. The U.S. switched in the 1990s from whole-cell pertussis vaccines to acellular versions to reduce side effects.
However, these newer vaccines do not provide as long-lasting immunity, leaving more adults susceptible to infection and able to pass it on to vulnerable infants.
Protection fades over time, much like with flu and COVID vaccines, and coverage gaps are growing as fewer adults keep up with booster shots. Only about 60% of pregnant women are receiving recommended Tdap boosters, limiting critical protection for newborns.
Modern PCR testing now detects more cases, but experts say the real-world increase in hospitalizations and outbreaks points to genuine spread, not just better detection. Health authorities are urging clinicians to be vigilant for symptoms, especially in households with newborns or infants.
Antibiotic Resistance and the Limits of Public Health Tracking
Doctors typically treat whooping cough with macrolide antibiotics, but resistant strains—common abroad—are now a growing concern in the U.S. While Dallas County has not yet seen resistant cases, federal officials warn that international travel could quickly spread these harder-to-treat forms.
As public health budgets face cuts and data reporting lags—Dallas County now receives immunization data only once a month—tracking and containing the outbreaks becomes more challenging. This highlights the ongoing struggle to balance individual choice, public safety, and the effectiveness of government intervention.
