Sept. 4, 2025 – Reno/Sparks, Nev. – Northern Nevada Public Health is updating the community regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in Washoe County.
NNPH is awaiting guidance from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is scheduled to meet on Sept. 18, 2025, to determine a path forward in providing the updated COVID-19 vaccine. After that guidance is issued, NNPH will send out more information about how to obtain the updated COVID-19 vaccine through our clinic, which we anticipate will be available at the end of September or early October of this year.
At this time, per the State of Nevada, we are pausing the use of the 2024-25 version of the COVID-19 vaccine until we receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine. The updated version is a different formula designed to protect against new variants currently circulating throughout the United States.
More information will be distributed when it becomes available. Residents with vaccine questions should contact their medical provider.
Whooping cough cases (Pertussis) on the rise in Washoe County
Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is alerting residents of Washoe County to a concerning rise in pertussis, also known as whooping cough. As of late August, 18 confirmed or probable cases have been reported in 2025 –more than triple the number reported in all of 2024.
Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness, also known as the “100-day cough”, and spreads through coughing, sneezing, or close contact with infected individuals. While it can affect people of all ages, the highest risk for severe complications (pneumonia, seizures, and even death) is for infants and young children.
“We believe it’s important to alert the community when we see concerning trends like this,” said Dr. Chad Kingsley, District Health Officer for Northern Nevada Public Health. “Respiratory illness season doesn’t officially begin until October, yet we’ve already seen three times as many whooping cough cases this year as we did in all of last year.”
Symptoms of whooping cough typically appear 7–10 days after exposure and progress in three stages:
- Stage 1 (Catarrhal): Mild cough, runny nose, low-grade fever.
- Stage 2 (Paroxysmal): Severe coughing fits, often with a “whooping” sound, vomiting, and exhaustion.
- Stage 3 (Convalescent): Gradual recovery, although coughing may persist for weeks.
Vaccination is recommended to prevent contracting the illness and reduce the chances of severe infection. The vaccine and booster schedule is:
- Children should receive the DTaP vaccine in a five-dose series starting at 2 months old. Parents should consult a pediatrician for more information.
- Those 11-18 years of age should receive a single dose of Tdap, preferably at a preventive care visit at age 11-12 years, and should receive one Tdap booster every 10 years after that.
- Persons older than 19 should receive a dose of Tdap if they have never had one before, and receive a Tdap booster every 10 years.
- Pregnant women should get a Tdap shot during each pregnancy (between 27–36 weeks gestation).
Other prevention tips are to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, wash your hands frequently, and stay home if you’re sick.
Important for Healthcare Providers
NNPH urges all healthcare providers to consider pertussis in patients with prolonged cough and to test appropriately. A nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate should be collected for PCR or culture testing. Testing should ideally occur before starting antibiotics.
If You’ve Been Exposed: Close contacts of confirmed cases – especially infants, pregnant women, and those in schools or healthcare settings – should be monitored for symptoms for 21 days. Post-exposure antibiotics may be recommended, even for vaccinated individuals.
More info for providers can be found in our NNPH Epi-News.
Reporting: Pertussis is a reportable disease in Nevada. Providers should report suspected or confirmed cases to NNPH by calling 775-328-2447 or faxing 775-328-3764.
###
Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making District Board of Health. NNPH consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Population Health. More info can be found here.