COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency issued a statement on Monday reminding residents to know their own and their children’s vaccination status against Whooping Cough (pertussis).
The agency says they are monitoring for additional cases of pertussis, with one recently identified case in St. Joseph County.
Cases have been identified in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Children usually receive a series of the pertussis vaccine (DTaP) in early infancy and another dose before starting school (Tdap).
The Health Agency says with school and college starting soon, now is a good time to reduce the spread of illness by updating your children’s vaccinations. Adolescents and adults also need to get a booster dose to help protect them as they get older.
Agency Director of Personal Health and Disease Prevention Heidi Hazel urges “anyone with pertussis symptoms should see their Provider right away to get tested. Anyone who wants to check on their immunization history can check online at https://mcir.org or contact their local health department office to check their history and schedule an appointment if vaccines are due.”
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