Carlos Arteaga, M.D.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study examining post-exposure prophylaxis for pertussis (whooping cough) in health care workers vaccinated with the acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) is under way at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
The CDC recommends that all health care workers receive Tdap due to their role in the spread of pertussis to their patients and co-workers.
The Vanderbilt Pertussis Exposure Study (VPES) is looking to enroll all VCH health care workers age 18-64 years with direct patient contact. Volunteers will receive the vaccine and be evaluated in the event an exposure to a person with pertussis occurs. For more information contact the VPES study team at 936-3686 or e-mail Tom Talbot, M.D., at tom.talbot@vanderbilt.edu.