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| Pregnant women and young infants are especially at risk |
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Whooping cough (pertussis) is at high levels in King County and Washington state and incidence is growing. Get protected!
Whooping cough is a very contagious cough illness. It is spread through droplets from the mouth and nose when a person with pertussis coughs, sneezes, or talks. Young infants are at highest risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death from whooping cough.
Hear a Whooping Cough sound: http://www.pkids.org/diseases/pertussis.html
Vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others:
Whooping cough cases and deaths have been reduced by over 90% through widespread use of routine whooping cough vaccination. Despite this success, whooping cough has not been eliminated and has been increasing in recent years, reminding us of the importance of keeping vaccination rates up. Be sure all children, teens & adults are up-to-date with whooping cough vaccine. Older children, teens and adults who aren’'t up-to-date on their vaccine can spread the infection to infants, pregnant women and others.
Where you can get vaccinated:
Whooping cough vaccine is available through many health care providers and pharmacies
Talk to your health care provider to make sure your whooping cough vaccine is up-to-date. Many local pharmacies also offer whooping cough vaccine. A complete list is available here.
If it's been more than ten years since your last tetanus shot, seek out the Tetanus vaccine that includes pertussis, and you'll take care of two things at once. Ask your doctor's office where you can get it.
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