Whooping Cough Vaccination

近期西雅图地区百日咳病症发病趋势增加，请大家注意个人健康，如有需要，可以到学校Hall Health 接种疫苗。

Pertussis is on the rise

Whooping Cough (or pertussis) is Not Just For Kids....

Pertussis, also known as "whooping cough," is a communicable bacterial disease that is spread through droplets from the mouth and nose when a person with pertussis coughs, sneezes, or talks. This disease has reached epidemic levels in Washington, with over a ten-fold increase in cases since last year.

Pertussis vaccines are recommended for all children, adolescents and adults.  The shots given to children wear off over time and therefore, everyone age 11 and older should receive a pertussis booster, called Tdap. Tdap vaccine comprises tetanus-diphtheria and pertussis and provides relatively good immunity against these diseases.

Current UW-Seattle students can get a Tdap booster on a walk-in basis at Hall Health or can call the consulting nurses with questions about the vaccine: (206) 221-2517. UW employees and members of the public can also receive a Tdap vaccine by making a Hall Health appointment at (206) 616-2495. You can also get a Tdap vaccine from your health care provider, and pharmacies can be a convenient location for older children and adults.

UW Bothell and UW Seattle students can find more information from local public health: http://www.kingcounty.gov/health ... /whoopingcough.aspx or from Snohomish County at: http://www.snohd.org/Shd_CD/CDcontrol.aspx

UW Tacoma students can find vaccine information at the Tacoma-Pierce County Department of Public Health: http://www.tpchd.org/health-well ... nditions/pertussis/

Governor Gregoire issued an Emergency State Action last week about pertussis and prevention activities in the state of Washington which you can find at: http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/ ... 1898&newsType=1

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has great information about pertussis at: http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/

Unrecognized infections in older children and adults are thought to be the most common source of pertussis transmission to infants in the community. It is especially important for those around infants who are less than one year old to get a dose of Tdap to help protect them from whooping cough as the disease is more severe in infants and can lead to hospitalization and death. Tdap should be administered regardless of the interval since the last tetanus or diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine. If you have no record of receiving your Tdap booster, please contact your health care provider for your immunization record.