CoCo County Offers Free Whooping Cough Vaccine
MARTINEZ, Calif. (KCBS/AP) - Contra Costa County is planning on providing free pertussis vaccinations Thursday at the Concord farmer's market.
Individuals aged seven and older can get a Tdap vaccine, which protects against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus, during the county clinic at Todos Santos Plaza from 4 p.m. To 9 p.m.
California health officials are also reaching out to minority communities about the statewide whooping cough epidemic that has claimed the lives of five Latino babies.
The California Department of Public Health is teaming with New America Media, an ethnic media collaborative, to raise awareness through foreign language media about vaccinations for parents, caregivers and children.
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The highly contagious disease has been found in 1,337 Californians of all backgrounds as of June 30, and new parents are being asked to get vaccinated to prevent spreading it to vulnerable newborns.
A typical case starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks, followed by weeks or months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever is rare.
