Clark County health care providers are fielding more requests forthe whooping cough vaccine as the epidemic continues to spreadacross the county and state.
Clark County Public Health has recorded 104 cases of whoopingcough since Jan. 1. Thats compared with just 18 cases this time lastyear, according to the health department.
Washington state health officials report 1,284 cases from Jan. 1through May 5. During the same 18-week period in 2011, the statereported 128 cases.
State and local health officials are urging people to getvaccinated to stop the spread of the illness. Last week, Gov. ChrisGregoire opened an emergency fund in response to the outbreak,making $90,000 available for a public awareness campaign aimed atencouraging vaccination.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an illness spreadthrough respiratory secretions such as coughing and sneezing. Theillness is particularly dangerous, and potentially deadly, forinfants, who can develop serious complications such as pneumonia andbrain inflammation. Immunization of others protects infants who aretoo young to receive the vaccine, according to health officials.
The state recommends children receive five doses of thediphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine, commonly knownas DTaP, before age 7. Adolescents (ages 11 to 18) and adults (ages19 to 64) should receive a tetanus, diphtheria and acellularpertussis booster, commonly known as Tdap, according to staterecommendations.
Local health care providers are seeing an uptick in the number ofpatients seeking information and asking to be vaccinated.
Since the epidemic began, The Vancouver Clinic has given three tofour times the number of whoop
ing cough vaccines as it had prior to the outbreak. Among thegroups inquiring about the Tdap booster are families with youngchildren and grandparents who dont want to pass the illness on toyoung grandchildren, said Dr. Marcia Sparling, assistant medicaldirector.
We see that many adults have really stopped thinking aboutimmunizations at all, until this happened, Sparling said.
The clinic is offering immunization to any patient who comes intothe clinic and isnt up-to-date and has also reduced the cost of thevaccine to help patients whose insurance doesnt cover immunizations,Sparling said. In addition, the clinic is requiring all staff beimmunized in order to protect patients, she said.
Kaiser Permanente physicians are also seeing a surge in patientinterest in the vaccines.
Dr. Terry Williams, a family practice physician at the Orchardsmedical office, said hes seen an increase in the number of patientsasking to be immunized.
Im getting three to five emails a day asking for the vaccines forwhooping cough, Williams said. I always let my patients know whentheir kids are due for the vaccine, but many of them are taking theinitiative to ask me about it.
Marissa Harshman: 360-735-4546; http://twitter.com/col_health;http://facebook.com/reporterharshman;marissa.harshman@columbian.com.
