Whooping cough reaches epidemic levels in Calif.
By CBS News
The number of whooping cough cases throughout California has reached epidemic proportions, state health officials said Friday.
The California Department of Public Health said in a statement released Friday that more than 800 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, have been reported over the past two weeks. As of June 10, there have been 3,458 cases — more than in all of 2013.
CBS Los Angeles and KNX 1070 news radio report health officials say more than 85 percent of those who have contracted pertussis had preventative shots.
“The vaccine, while it’s very effective when it’s obtained following the first year, each year thereafter, the effectiveness decreases,” said Dr. Wilma Wooten with San Diego County Health and Human Services. “That’s why we’re seeing the infections.”
Ok. I vaccinated all of my kids against Whooping Cough and none of them contracted it. Parents that do not believe in vaccinating their kids need to see first hand what Whooping Cough does and MAYBE they will reconsider their position.
As mentioned, I also vaccinated my son as recommended when he was a baby and he got whooping cough about four years ago when he was 13. Bad for those in high risk categories but he just had bad cough for about a month then he was fine.