Immunization clinics offered for whooping cough

With southern Alberta children at risk of whooping cough, health officials have announced special immunization clinics until month’s end.

An outbreak of the disease — also known as pertussis — is taking its toll, they warn. More than half of the province’s 615 reported cases come from the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat area, Alberta Health Services confirms.

A booster dose is being offered free for all children aged 10 to 12, born between Sept. 1 in 2004 and Aug. 31, 2007, regardless of their immunization history. The by-appointment clinic sessions began Thursday in Fort Macleod, moving Friday to Cardston and Taber.

Lethbridge clinics are planned Aug. 28-31 at Casa, while a one-day clinic will be held Aug. 30 in Coaldale. Location and appointment information is available online at www.ahs.ca/pertussis.

Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable illness, and immunization protecting against it is provided free through the province’s routine childhood immunization program. The illness begins with a runny nose, sneezing, fever and a mild cough.

But after a week, the coughing becomes more frequent and more severe. Children may make a “whooping” sound after they cough, and they may also vomit. Untreated, the disease may lead to convulsions, pneumonia, brain injury and sometimes death.

In adults, the symptoms are usually milder, health officials say, but the cough may last two months nor longer. Adults are also urged to get immunization if they have not done so.

Health officials ask Albertans to ensure they and their children are up-to-date on all routine immunizations, not just pertussis. They can check on their immunization history by calling Health Link at 811.

Follow @DMabellHerald on Twitter