Whooping Cough Becoming Epidemic; Free Vaccinations Today

Last Thursday during Future of Health Care in Washington Conference at Bellevue Community College Mary Selecky, State Secretary of Health, highlighted the danger of a spread of Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, and the importance of getting vaccinated for this disease.

In 2011, there were 220 cases reported for the entire year.  In only three months this year, there have been 200 cases reported, including 3 hospitalizations.

The Everett Herald ran an article this morning reminding us of a tragedy on August 16, 2011, when Kaliah Jeffery died from whooping cough at Seattle Children’s Hospital.  Kaliah was just 27 days old, about a month too young to receive her first Whooping Cough vaccination.

Tonya Lively, the aunt of Khalia’s father, has started a Facebook page promoting vaccination for whooping cough.  Being an active medical worker at The Everett Clinic, she pushed The Everett Clinic foundation to fund 450 doses of the vaccine in order for low-income people to be protected for free.

Suzanne Pate, a health district spokeswoman, said that the health district and the Snohomish County Medical Society are giving $10,000 towards the overall cost of $25,000.

Snohomish Health District will be providing free vaccinations tonight, April 4^th, from 4 pm to 8 pm in Arlington, and on April 21st from 9 am to 1 pm in Lynnwood.

For more information go to http://www.snohd.org/Shd_CD/CDcontrol.aspx