Health department urges adults to get whooping cough vaccination

During its March 2014 meeting, the District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) Board of Health approved the following recommendation from Medical Director, Dr. Robert Graham, related to vaccination for whooping cough (pertussis).

“Whooping cough (pertussis) continues to spread through our communities,” said Dr. Graham. “Pregnant women, family members and care givers of newborns are urged to get vaccinated against whooping cough.

“Little kids, especially kids under the age of one year, are vulnerable to the ravages of pertussis,” said Dr. Graham. “Lung tissue is damaged and the ability to clear secretions is reduced.  Pneumonia can develop and occasionally inflammation of the brain will occur.

“The best course of action is to prevent the disease before it can infect a child. Moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, and any care provider should have an up to date vaccination against whooping cough. If people in a child’s life are protected, then young children whose immune systems aren’t developed are less likely to become infected with the pertussis germ.”

The DHD#10 board of health is made up of two county commissioners from each county served by DHD#10 – Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Newaygo, Oceana, and Wexford. The board meets monthly, usually on the last Friday of every month, to approve the budget and act upon reports from the Medical Director, Health Officer, and other agency division directors.

The board of health is ultimately responsible for local public health administration and governance in response to state and local laws, rules and regulations.  They also establish local public health regulations and fees for services. More information is available at http://www.dhd10.org/aboutdhd10/board-of-health-info.

The above adult vaccination recommendations are based on research presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; [Preventing Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Among Adults]; MMWR December 15, 2006 / 55(RR17); 1-33; located at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5517.pdf.

To find out more about whooping cough vaccination, contact your local office of DHD#10.

Crawford County: 989-348-7800

Mecosta County:   231-592-0130

Kalkaska County:   231-258-8669

Missaukee County:   231-839-7167

Lake County:    231-745-4663

Newaygo County:   231-689-7300

Manistee County: 231-723-3595

Oceana County: 231-873-2193

Mason County: 231-845-7381

Wexford County: 231-775-9942