Media Advisory

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Monday, July 26, 2010

What:

Contra Costa Health Services will offer free whooping cough and H1N1 flu vaccine this week at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez. People will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. There has been a dramatic rise in illness caused by whooping cough, also known as pertussis. The state health department announced last week that it had expanded the eligible age group for whooping cough vaccine to people 65 years and older.

Who:

Anyone 7 years of age and older may receive Tdap vaccine, which protects against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. H1N1 vaccine is available for people age 6 months and older.

All those who have close contact with infants are encouraged to get the whooping cough vaccine. Almost 50% of children infected with whooping cough have become infected from a parent or relative.

When:

The vaccination clinic will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 30 in the circle plaza outside of the main entrance of the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, 2500 Alhambra Avenue in Martinez. The Tdap vaccine is also being offered at no cost on an ongoing basis at four Public Health Immunization clinics. A list of locations is available at www.cchealth.org/topics/pertussis/

Why:

Whooping cough is a serious respiratory disease that can cause death among infants. Contra Costa Health Services had confirmed 75 cases of the disease as of July 26. In 2009, there were 18 cases.

For more information about whooping cough or its vaccine, visit www.cchealth.org or call Contra Costa Health Services at 925-313-6767.

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