Press release:

Vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others—including babies—during the ongoing whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic, so Public Health – Seattle & King County and Group Health Cooperative are partnering to provide free whooping cough booster shots for adults.

Adults without health insurance and those who cannot afford to pay can get a free booster on Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Group Health Burien Medical Center.

Young infants are at highest risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death from whooping cough. In older children and adults, the severity of whooping cough can range from a serious illness to less severe cold-like symptoms.

However, the greater danger is that adults can spread the infection to infants, pregnant women and others who have no protection.

Health officials urge all adults, especially those who have contact with infants, children and pregnant women, to make sure they have had their whooping cough vaccination.

Date: Saturday, May 12, 2012

Time: The clinic is open from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or until there is no more vaccine available

Location: Group Health Burien Medical Center
140 SW 146th St, Burien WA, 98116

Vaccines are also available at many local pharmacies and through health care providers.

The number of whooping cough cases in King County continues to rise, with 187 cases confirmed so far in 2012. With the ongoing whooping cough epidemic in our state, the risk of getting infected is high and will likely remain high for several more months.

To learn more about how immunizations can save lives please watch and share this video: http://youtu.be/mQw-EQyx2dk.

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.9 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. More at www.kingcounty.gov/health

Group Health is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit health systems, recognized for its consumer-governed cooperative origins and innovative solutions for improving care. Established in 1947, Group Health Cooperative, together with its subsidiaries Group Health Options, Inc. and KPS Health Plans, provides health coverage to more than 663,000 residents of Washington state and North Idaho.
For more on Group Health please visit Group Health Innovates, ghinnovates.org.
http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health.aspx
Free Whooping Cough (pertussis) Vaccines