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Because of outbreaks in Washington state and across the nation, the state Department of Health is recommending anyone from age 11 to 64 receive a vaccine for whooping cough, or pertussis.
Adults can take a Tdap vaccination in place of one tetanus shot. The booster protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
Teens and adults can often carry a milder form of whooping cough and act as a reservoir of the disease, spreading it to babies and children who are not fully protected and may be at risk for serious complications.
The recommendation follows an outbreak of whooping cough on Whidbey Island. As of Monday, the Island County Health Department reported 41 cases in the southern and central portion of the island.
For more information on the vaccination, contact the Department of Health at 866-397-0337. For those needing help finding an immunization clinic for a child, call the Family Health Hotline at 800-322-2588.
