Gregoire takes emergency action to slow whooping cough epidemic

As a whooping cough epidemic continues spreading across
the state, Governor Chris Gregoire is making emergency
money to buy more vaccine for kids and urging health care
professionals to get vaccinated and vaccinate their
patients.

The governor has also announced federal approval for
health officials to buy several thousand doses of
pertussis vaccine for adults.

“I’ve been following the epidemic closely and the
continued increase in cases has me very concerned about
the health of our residents,” Gregoire said in a
statement. “I’m especially concerned about the vulnerable
babies in our communities that are too young to be fully
immunized. These actions will help state and local health
leaders get vaccine into people’s arms so we can stem the
tide.”

The number of whooping cough cases in the state is heading
for unprecedented levels, according to Secretary of Health
Mary C. Selecky.

“In my 13 years as secretary this is the first time I’ve
had to use the word ‘epidemic’ about disease in our
state,” Selecky said. “Pertussis is very serious,
especially for babies. It’s vital that teens and adults
are current on their immunizations because they’re often
the ones who give whooping cough to babies. We’re headed
for unprecedented numbers of cases. We’ve got to keep
spreading the word to help prevent the spread of illness.”

The Department of Health says 1,132 cases of whooping
cough have been reported in the state through April 28—
that’s compared to 117 over the same time last year. There
were 965 cases reported in all of 2011. The epidemic is on
pace for as many as 3,000 cases in 2012.

Gregoire is making $90,000 available from the
governor’s emergency fund to strengthen public awareness
efforts about the need for vaccination.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
has approved using federal funds to buy more than 27,000
doses of pertussis vaccine for adults who are uninsured or
underinsured.