Whooping cough cases have reached epidemic levels in Washington and we are headed towards our highest number of cases in decades. Babies are most at risk for serious disease and are too young to get enough doses to be protected. So, it’s up to families, caregivers, and communities to protect them by getting vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis).
There has been a lot of media coverage and many questions have come from the public, health care providers, and our partners. The epidemic has led to national news coverage—the Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and CNN. Staff from across the Public Health agencies are working on the response—disease tracking, communication and outreach activities, and coordination with local health and other partners.
I’m sure you’re getting questions from family and friends, and that’s an opportunity for you to be an ambassador for public health. You can deliver important health messages. Check out the many resources on our home page to help answer questions you get from partners, friends, and family. You’ll find a weekly tracking report (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/documents/pertupdate.pdf) that’s updated Tuesday afternoons, and facts about whooping cough (http://www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/factsheet/pertussis.htm), including information about the disease and vaccines.
Just as important as sharing this information is making sure that we are all up-to-date on pertussis vaccine. Many people don’t know the vaccine wears off eventually, so all teens and adults should get a booster to protect themselves and others—especially the babies in our communities. The vaccine is widely available at pharmacies, health care offices, and clinics.
Getting the Tdap vaccine can make a big difference in your life and the lives of those around you.
Take care of yourself! Get vaccinated and help us stop the spread of whooping cough.
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