Public health officials will offer free pertussis vaccinations in Port Angeles, Port Townsend and Forks later this month.
About 1,280 cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, have been reported in Washington this year, and health officials believe the state could see as many as 3,000 cases by year’s end.
Twenty-six cases have been confirmed on the North Olympic Peninsula — 21 in Jefferson County and five in Clallam County.
Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, will brief the Clallam County Board of Health about pertussis Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
Health Secretary Mary Selecky declared a pertussis epidemic April 3, and since then, officials have bought up the vaccine and made it available for free for people who don’t have insurance.
Because the adult booster for pertussis — called Tdap for tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis — has only been available since 2005, fewer than one in 10 adults have gotten the shot, and most don’t even know they need it.
Tdap vaccinations
The Clallam County Health Department will offer free Tdap vaccinations for people with no medical insurance or insurance that does not cover vaccinations Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at clinics in Port Angeles and Forks.
Anyone 10 and older can get the shot at the Port Angeles clinic at 111 E. Third St. or the Forks clinic at 140 C St. while supplies last.
No appointment is needed.
Jefferson County Public Health will offer free whooping cough shots for uninsured residents who are 19 and older Mondays beginning May 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Port Townsend clinic at 615 Sheridan St.
The Tdap vaccine also will be available at Jefferson County Public Health’s regular walk-in clinics Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Why called whooping
Pertussis is known as whooping cough because of the “whooping” sound people often make while gasping for air after a coughing fit.
A highly contagious bacterial disease, it starts off like a cold but leads to severe coughing that can last for weeks.
In rare cases, it can be fatal.
Infants are at the highest risk of severe complications.
Health officials say the best way to protect infants who are too young to be to be fully immunized is to immunize older children and adults around them.