Whooping cough (pertussis) may sound like a thing of the past, but it's on the rise. If you catch it, you could be coughing for months, and you may spread it to your family (it's especially dangerous for babies). A new study in the journal Pediatric Infectious Disease found that 55 percent of infants who get whooping cough catch it from their parents. That's why you should get vaccinated -- for your own health and your child's. (If you have an infant, make sure all other caregivers get the shot, too.) There's no pertussis vaccine by itself, so ask your doctor about Tdap, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. If it's been two years since your tetanus and diphtheria booster (Td), you can get Tdap; otherwise, your doctor will decide what's safe.
