Marin County and other counties in California are experiencing outbreaks of Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough. The Marin county health department is tracking cases and contacts, providing guidance and information to health care providers and the public.
Most of the reported cases have occurred in the elementary and middle school age groups. While the incidence of new cases in Marin appears to be waning since a peak in late May/early June, it is possible that pertussis will continue to occur this fall among infants, children, teens and adults. Infants under six months are particularly at risk of complications related to this illness.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious bacterial illness spread by coughs and sneezes. People sick with pertussis have severe coughing attacks that can last for months.
Vaccination is the best defense against whooping cough. However, the immunity from vaccines wears off over time and pertussis booster vaccine rates in adolescents and adults continue to be low. As a result, pertussis continues to circulate widely in California, resulting in the hospitalization and death of young infants who are too young to get their shots.
In response to the high levels of disease and death from pertussis in California during 2010, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is recommending that all Californians make sure that they are immunized against pertussis, especially if they are in contact with infants. CDPH has issued new recommendations for health care providers to help with this effort. See
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/immunize/Documents/EarlyAlertToProviders-AB354.pdf
Children need five doses of DTap by kindergarten (ages 4-6) and a Tdap booster by age 11. All teens and adults are also recommended to receive Tdap boosters.
Marin City Health and Wellness Center
630 Drake Avenue, Marin City, CA 94965,
Phone: (415)339-8813
Hours: Mon 8-5, Tue 1-5, Wed 1-5, Thu 10-2, Fri closed.
RotaCare San Rafael Free Clinic
1033 Third Street, Third Floor, San Rafael, CA 94901,
Voice Mail: (415)482-6906; Fax: 415-482-6911
Adult Vaccination Clinic: 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm
Pertussis vaccine offered free the second and last Thursday of the month www.rotacarebayarea.org/clinics/san_rafeal.html
Marin Community Clinic
3110 Kerner Boulevard, San Rafael, CA 94904, Tel: (415) 526-8500
6090 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, CA 94945, Tel: (415) 448-1500
250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae, CA 94904, Tel: (415) 448-1595
Free for clients. www.marinclinic.org/patient2apptdir.html
Kaiser Permanente
66 Montecillo Road, San Rafael, CA 94903, Tel: (415) 444-2000
Free for Kaiser members. www.kp.org
Safeway Pharmacies
Provide Tdap vaccine. The fee is $60.00. Check with your local Safeway pharmacy for times and locations.
Marin County Department of Health and Human Services Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Public Health Nurse:
415-473-2623 415-473-7805 415-473-4163
