Cases of whooping cough, which starts out like a common cold but can quicky turn serious, keep surging in Oregon — causing health officials to issue a new call to get vaccinated.
Also known as pertussis, the disease poses a particular threat to young babies, and five infants have died from it since 2003. At the rate things are going, cases in the state will set a new record for Oregon this year. The median age for those catching it is 11 and the youngest has been five weeks old, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Lane County has the most reported cases, 249, despite having only the fourth largest population in the state. Following that are Multnomah with 180; Clackamas, 109; Washington, 67; and Deschutes with 59.
In a statement, Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations for the state Public Health Division expressed concern about holiday gatherings, because “those gatherings often include newborns who are too young to be vaccinated.”
According to the Oregon Health Authority, “Babies too young to be fully vaccinated suffer the most from pertussis, with the highest reported incidence rate and highest likelihood of hospitalization and death. This is because babies don’t start building protection against infection until they are vaccinated at 2 months old.”
State officials are encouraging pregnant people to get the Tdap vaccine – which protects a person against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis – in the range of 27–36 weeks’ gestation. That will produce antibodies that are passed on to their babies, lowing the risk to babies by close to 90%.
Kids should receive the DTaP vaccine at 2, 4, 6 and 15 to 18 months, and again at age 4 to kindergarten age, health officials say, and so should people age 10 and older.
Jennifer Gibbons, a naturopathic physician in Portland, is quoted in the state press release saying that “kids tolerate this vaccine very well. I find it to be a really useful, safe and effective vaccine.”
The reported number of cases stood at 827 as of Nov. 13. The state’s previous record of 910 was set in 2012.