Calaveras’ First Pertussis Cases

Calaveras County, CA – Calaveras County Health Officials report two confirmed Whooping Cough Cases. Both of the cases involve children of school age.

Those at high risk of pertussis are infants under one year of age, pregnant mothers, and children with chronic respiratory illness like asthma or cystic fibrosis. Infants who are too young to receive the vaccine can be protected by making sure family members and caregivers have been vaccinated.

“It is important that adults and youth who have close contact with infants get the Tdap vaccine,” urged Dr. Dean Kelaita, Calaveras County Health Officer.
Kelaita warns even if adults and youth have received the vaccine or had the disease, immunity wears off and a booster is needed.

Here is where you can get a shot of the Pertussis vaccine:

Calaveras Public Health Services
700 Mountain Ranch Road, Suite C-2, San Andreas

Monday afternoon from 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Thursday morning from 8:00 a.m. until noon.

No appointment is necessary. There is a charge of $16 per person. However Health Officials say no one will be turned down if they cannot afford to pay. For more information you can call Public Health at 754.6460.

The state has seen an outbreak of pertussis. As of March 2014, there were 495 confirmed cases in California. Also, earlier this month Tuolumne County recorded its first confirmed case of pertussis in a student at Summerville Elementary School.