Not getting whooping-cough could be a great present
Good health is a great gift. That’s why the South Everett-Mukilteo Rotary Club decided to join in the fight against whooping-cough by supporting a vaccination clinic around the corner from the annual Christmas House event in Everett.
Christmas House is a local non-profit that distributes toys, clothing and other gifts to thousands of low-income families and their children each December. It sets up at the Everett Boys & Girls Club for a few weeks each year.
This year, Snohomish Health District staff and volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corps will be nearby at Hawthorne Elementary School offering whooping-cough shots as part of a year-long effort to fight an epidemic of the contagious disease. The number of people getting sick has gone down, but cases are still being reported in Snohomish County, including a sick student at Hawthorne earlier this month.
Snohomish Health District continues to encourage all adults – especially those who have contact with infants – to get vaccinated against whooping-cough. People of all ages need booster shots to maintain their immunity, and most adults aren’t up to date on their shots. Since babies are most at risk of serious illness, women are now advised to get a booster shot with each pregnancy.
Whooping cough shots for both children and adults will be available during the clinics, along with a limited supply of flu shots. A single shot, known as “Tdap” for adults and “DTaP” for children, prevents tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping-cough.
The free vaccination clinics are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 and Dec. 8 at Hawthorne Elementary School, 1110 Poplar St., Everett, Wash. The school is around the corner from the Everett Boys & Girls Club, and many Christmas House families park in the school’s lot.
The South Everett-Mukilteo Rotary Club sought and received a district Rotary Club International matching grant to help host the clinics. The club is promoting the events with its annual Thanksgiving basket giveaway and is working with both Christmas House and the Everett Public Schools to notify families about the clinics.
For more information about whooping-cough, vaccination and low-cost options for protecting your family, visit www.snohd.org/stopthecough.
As of Nov. 15, Snohomish Health District had confirmed 544 reports of whooping-cough in 2012, more than 10 times normal. With the help of community partners, the Health District has vaccinated more than 2,000 adults this year; pharmacy partners have given more than 1,000 shots to low-income adults.
November 20, 2012
Everett, Everett Fire