Bordetella Pertussis is a bacterial infection infecting the upper respiratory tract and becoming more common since an every increasing number of adolesents, young adults and grandparents have lost their longstanding ability to be protected against this illness.  Masquerading as a common cold or flu like illness, in older children and adults, the infection can be transferred easily to susceptible infants or children (usually unvaccinated or under vaccinated).  Once acquiring the bacterial infection as infants, the disease can overwhelm the respiratory system of the afflicted, leading to respiratory failure and even death. Unfortunately, each year a large number of babies die unnecessary due this preventable infection. The recommendation is for each eligible person 19 years to 65 to receive a single vaccination to protect these vulnerable babies.

http://www.adultvaccination.org/whooping_cough_vaccine_pertussis_vaccination_adult_immunization.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/unprotected-story.htm