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Health agency steps up measures

Officials offer free vaccine to combat whooping cough

In the latest attempts to prevent whooping cough from spreading, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) announced it is offering a free vaccine.

Pregnant women, their partners and anyone with contact with children under 18 months of age are being offered the whooping cough vaccine. It is advised this group receive the vaccine if members have not had it in the past five years.

Since January 1, there have been 38 confirmed cases of whooping cough in the VCH region. It is more than three times the usual number of cases for this time of year.

Dr. Patricia Daly, chief medical health officer and vice-president of public health for VCH, said in a press release the agency is keeping an eye on the spreading illness.

“Since the outbreak in the Fraser Valley began in December,” she said, “we’ve been closely monitoring the incidence of whooping cough in our region. Because the number of cases in the region have risen over the last week...we are stepping up measures to protect residents.”

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, causes coughing fits that can become a severe illness and can last for months. It spreads easily by air when the infected person coughs, sneezes or laughs. It can be serious and fatal for young infants.

VCH advises parents to keep their child’s whooping cough immunizations up-to-date and given on time. “The best protection against whooping cough is to get vaccinated,” said Daly.

Free vaccines for eligible people will be available through family doctors’ offices, public health clinics and some pharmacies. Questions can be directed to HealthLink BC at 8.1.1.