What vaccine is recommended at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months to protect against whooping cough?

The DTaP vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects against three serious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, which is commonly known as whooping cough. The immunization schedule for the DTaP vaccine includes doses recommended at 2, 4, 6, and then again between 12 to 15 months of age. This regimen is designed to provide early and effective protection against these infectious diseases, particularly whooping cough, which can be very severe in young children.

By administering the DTaP vaccine during these early pediatric visits, healthcare providers can ensure that infants and young children are vaccinated before their risk of exposure increases as they become more mobile and start interacting with other children. This vaccine is crucial in maintaining herd immunity within the community, thereby protecting those who are more vulnerable and cannot be vaccinated.

In contrast, the other vaccines mentioned—MMR, Hib, and Varicella—are important as well but are administered at different ages and protect against other diseases (measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, and chickenpox, respectively). The timing and specific protection against whooping cough make the DTaP vaccine the correct choice for the