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Amador County – Earlier this month, Amador County Public Health announced that three cases of Whooping Cough were confirmed in the county, and set a series of shot clinics to help people fight the contagious disease. The next free clinic is set for September 22nd, and Amador County Health urges adult caregivers of young infants to get booster shots. Public Health Educator Diana Evensen said 167 vaccinations were done at a free clinic August 26th, and it was good that daycare providers were discussing Whooping Cough, also known as pertussis. Amador County Health Officer Doctor Robert Hartmann said “because pertussis vaccination does not begin until 2 months of age and infants are not fully immune until after 6 months, the only way to protect young infants is to do everything we can to minimize their exposure. This means ensuring their parents and caregivers are immunized.” Vaccinating parents and caregivers for pertussis before or at the birth of the child is the most important way to protect infants. Because vaccination does not provide lifelong immunity, in addition to the five doses of vaccine prior to kindergarten, a booster dose is recommended between 11 and 18 years of age, and for all who may have close contact with infants. Pregnant women may be vaccinated before or during pregnancy or after giving birth. Fathers may also be vaccinated at any time, but preferably before the birth of their baby. The best prevention against this disease is vaccination. Evensen said people of all ages over 17 are eligible for the free clinic booster shots. The three cases reported in Amador County involved three “unimmunized children.” Hartmann urged awareness and prevention in Amador County due to a significant rise in illness in California due to whooping cough. Hartmann said: “The number of whooping cough cases reported this year is seven times greater than last year in the state,” and the illness has been linked to seven deaths in the state. He said: “All seven deaths reported in California were infants under three months old.” Whooping cough is an illness that is highly contagious, particularly to infants. Public health said the illness “typically starts with a cough and runny nose for 1 to 2 weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing sometimes ending with a whooping sound.” Unimmunized or incompletely immunized young infants are especially vulnerable. A free Whooping Cough, tetanus and diphtheria vaccine clinic is scheduled for 2:30 to 6:30 pm on Wednesday, September 22nd at the Health and Human Services Building on Conductor Boulevard in Sutter Creek for people 17 years old or older. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
