Health officials say there's a total of 111 cases of whooping cough in Connecticut - that’s in contrast to 11 cases last year.

The Connecticut Public Health department believes the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame.

Whooping cough vaccines are given at 2, 4 and 6 months, 15 through 18 months, again at 4 through 6 years old and last one is 11 through 12 years old.

Like many things, in-person doctor appointments were put on hold during the pandemic, and that means vaccinations were not given in timely fashion.

“This is an opportunity to get children vaccinated and again if you’re an adult and haven’t gotten a booster last 10 years and you get a Tdap vaccine, you will be keeping yourself up to date on tetanus with an added benefit of also getting a pertussis,” said DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani.

Whooping cough can last anywhere from a week to 12 weeks.

Whooping cough symptoms include a runny nose, low-grade fever and mild occasional cough.

It could be followed by fits of numerous, rapid coughs followed by “whoop” sound, as well as vomiting and exhaustion after coughing fits.