Media Advisory

• Tweet

Monday, July 19, 2010

What:

Contra Costa Health Services will offer free whooping cough and H1N1 flu vaccine this week at Concord's Thursday Music and Market in Todos Santos Plaza. People will be seen on a first-come, first-serve basis. There has been a dramatic rise in illness caused by whooping cough, also known as pertussis. The state health department announced today that it has expanded the eligible age group for whooping cough vaccine to people 65 years and older.

Who:

Anyone 7 years of age and older may receive Tdap vaccine, which protects against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus. H1N1 vaccine is available for people age 6 months and older.

When:

The vaccination clinic will be held during Concord's Thursday Music and Market, from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 22 at Todos Santos Plaza, located on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. The Tdap vaccine is also being offered at no cost on an ongoing basis at four Public Health Immunization clinics. A list of locations is available at www.cchealth.org/topics/pertussis/

Why:

Whooping cough is a serious respiratory disease that can cause death among infants. Contra Costa Health Services had confirmed 62 cases of the disease as of July 16. In 2009, there were 18 cases.

For more information about whooping cough or its vaccine, visit www.cchealth.org or call Contra Costa Health Services at 925-313-6767.

# # #