Aug. 30--In an effort to fight the whooping cough epidemic, the Ventura County Public Health Department is offering free pertussis vaccines at its south Oxnard clinic on Wednesday.
The California Department of Public Health is partnering with public health departments throughout the state to host these no-cost vaccination clinics in order to stop the outbreak, which is showing no signs of slowing, according to the state public health department.
Although none were in Ventura County, there have been eight deaths so far in California this year because of pertussis, better known as whooping cough. According to state data, 3,011 cases of whooping cough were reported in California between Jan. 1 and Aug. 4.
"We know infants are particularly vulnerable," said Ken August, spokesman for the state public health department. "All of the deaths involved infants younger than 3 months of age."
Babies can begin getting vaccinated at 2 months of age, but they are not fully protected until they get the third of the five shots necessary. They usually get their third shot around 6 months of age, and the final two shots after that.
"It's very important for parents, family members and caregivers of infants to get booster shots so they can provide a cocoon of protection around the infant," August said.
Dr. Heather Nichols, a pediatrician at Santa Paula Clinic West, a clinic in the county's public health system, said she has seen about five cases of pertussis in the past several weeks.
"Lately, I have seen many chronic coughs ... and other symptoms that worry me about pertussis," she said. "I have swabbed multiple children for pertussis ... This is absolutely here, at home, and people should be aware and be seeking vaccinations."
The vaccine is safe, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and also can be given to women before, during and after pregnancy.
This pertussis epidemic is the worst California has seen in more than 50 years.
"The incidence of pertussis waxes and wanes," said Dr. Tom Clark, a medical epidemiologist with the CDC. "In recent years, it's been quite high."
Pertussis last peaked in California in 2005, when 3,182 cases, 574 hospitalizations and seven deaths were reported. That same year, 25,000 cases were reported nationally, according to the state public health department.
There have been 102 cases reported in Ventura County so far this year compared with 42 cases during the same period last year, according to Kim Kandarian, communicable disease coordinator for the county's public health department.
Children usually receive a series vaccine called DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis) in five doses before their seventh birthday. It's followed by a booster shot from the ages of 11 to 12.
Those older than 12 are encouraged to get an adult/adolescent tetanus, diptheria, pertussis booster vaccine, Tdap, which was developed in 2005.
August said a lot of adults may believe they are protected because they received a whooping cough vaccine as a child. They may not realize the vaccine wears off.
"When children are vaccinated, immunity wears off by the time they reach middle school," August said.
Even if you've already had whooping cough, you are still not protected, August said. Any immunity built up by getting the disease also wears off with time, just like the disease.
Symptoms of whooping cough vary, but a typical case starts with a cough and runny nose that lasts one to two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing accompanied by a "whooping" sound as the individual tries to take a breath.
Because school is once again in session, August said, there is even more opportunity to spread this highly contagious disease.
Kandarian said the county public health department has about 500 doses available to administer Wednesday. The clinic is 3-7 p.m. at 2500 South C St. in Oxnard.
Kandarian said there might be another free pertussis vaccination clinic in the future, depending on the response to this one.
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