Latest news with #Tdap
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Ernakulam govt medical college to open adult immunization clinic
Kochi: Ernakulam govt medical college will open an adult immunisation clinic on Monday. The clinic will provide vaccines against diseases such as chickenpox, typhoid, encephalitis, flu, jaundice and pneumonia to those above 18 years. Vaccines available at the hospital's HLL pharmacy include TD, Tdap, HPV, Varicella, Influenza, Pneumococcal, Hepatitis, Meningococcal, MMR, and Typhoid. Medical superintendent Dr Ganesh Mohan M said the Influenza vaccine would be available at 52% less than the market rate and the Pneumococcal vaccine would be 33% cheaper. These vaccines are especially beneficial for senior citizens and those travelling abroad. The community medicine department will be responsible for running the immunisation clinic, which will operate on all working days from 9am to 1pm.
Axios
09-06-2025
- Health
- Axios
Louisiana on track for record whooping cough cases
Whooping cough is spreading faster in Louisiana than it has in more than a decade, and health officials warn that this year could set a record for cases. Why it matters: Adults need to take precautions to keep infants safe, doctors say, because they are most at risk for complications from the illness. The big picture: Louisiana has had 170 cases reported as of May 14, surpassing the number for the entire year of 2024, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. The current record of 214 cases was set in 2013. Threat level: Two babies have died in Louisiana since September, marking the state's first deaths from whooping cough, or pertussis, since 2018, LDH says. Since September, 42 people have been hospitalized, with about 70% of them younger than 12 months. So far this year, the pertussis case rate for infants in Louisiana is at least seven times higher than all other age groups, LDH says. Cases are increasing nationally as well. Health officials attribute some of the rise in cases to declining vaccination rates and waning immunity. What he's saying:"It is a horrible disease," says Joshua Sharfstein, a pediatrician and professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "Babies really do struggle to catch their breath, and sometimes they stop breathing altogether and it's terrifying to watch." When babies are being hospitalized with whooping cough, he said it's an indicator that more adolescents and adults also have it but probably haven't been diagnosed. The babies usually get exposed because someone else in the household is coughing, he said. How it works: Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads through coughing, sneezing and close contact, LDH says. Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, intense coughing fits and post-coughing vomiting for two to three weeks. Severe cases can hinder breathing and last for months. Zoom in: Two vaccines (Tdap and DTaP) prevent serious complications, LDH says, and are available for children and adults. But protection fades over time. LDH recommends that adults get a booster shot every 10 years. Medical providers can do a nasal swab test to check if you have whooping cough. Antibiotics treat the symptoms and the spread if given early, LDH says. What to do for teens and adults: If you have a cough and are around babies, seek medical attention earlier than you would if you aren't around babies, Sharfstein encourages. Tell the doctor you live with or interact with an infant regularly, because the doctor may think differently about your cough, he said. Check your vaccine records, and get a booster if needed, he advised. For babies: "I would say a cough that doesn't look right to the parents always needs to be checked out by the doctor," Sharfstein said, especially if it is a persistent cough that's interfering with a child's ability to do normal things. He encourages parents to create a cocoon around infants by making sure everyone is vaccinated and gets tested quickly if they have a cough. Go deeper
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Get your Tdap vaccine at Dairy Day in Chenango
CHENANGO. N.Y. (WSYR-TV)– The Chenango County Nursing Division will be hosting a Tdap vaccine event at Dairy Day on Saturday, June, 21, 2025. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Norwich Fairgrounds in Chenango. Tdap is recommended for children ages 10 and older, adults who are in need of a booster, and pregnant women in their third trimester. Children who receive the vaccine will then get a coupon for a small ice cream cone from Dusty's Dairy Bar and Grill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Two unvaccinated babies die of whooping cough in KY as disease rise is predicted to continue
(Kentucky Department of Public Health) Two unvaccinated babies have died from pertussis, better known as whooping cough, in Kentucky in the last six months, the Kentucky Department for Public Health announced Friday. These two deaths in infants, whose mothers were also not vaccinated against pertussis, are the first whooping cough deaths in Kentucky since 2018, the department said. Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can be life threatening. It is most dangerous for babies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can, however, affect people of any age. Kentucky health officials emphasized the importance of maternal immunization during pregnancy and for all infants beginning promptly at 2 months of age. 'Anyone can get whooping cough, but infants are at greatest risk for life-threatening illness,' Dr. Steven Stack, the state's public health commissioner, said in a statement. 'Fortunately, when vaccinations are administered to pregnant women, it provides protection to both the mother and the baby.' The state's public health department says there have been 247 cases of whooping cough so far in 2025. In 2024, there were 543 cases, the most since 2012. 'Health officials anticipate that whooping cough will continue to increase during the summer and fall, based on historic trends,' the department said. Vaccines are available to children as young as 2 months old and can help prevent it, the CDC says. The recommended vaccines are DTaP for children and Tdap for preteens. Concerned parents can call their primary care providers to ask about vaccines. Symptoms of whooping cough include, according to the Kentucky Department of Public Health: Runny or stuffy nose Uncontrollable coughing Vomiting from coughing Fever below 100.4 Fahrenheit Apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing) and cyanosis (turning blue or purple) in infants and young children
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kentucky health officials urge vaccines after infant deaths
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Health officials are urging Kentuckians to remain up to date on immunizations after two infants died from whooping cough. On Friday, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services said two infants have died from pertussis, whooping cough, in Kentucky in the last six months. Owensboro's blue bridge to close for up to 3 months Kentucky gas tax to see reduction next month Kentucky health officials urge vaccines after infant deaths The cabinet said both infants and their mothers were not immunized against whooping cough. These were the first pertussis-related deaths in Kentucky since 2018. 'Anyone can get whooping cough, but infants are at greatest risk for life-threatening illness,' Kentucky Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said. 'Fortunately, when vaccinations are administered to pregnant women, it provides protection to both the mother and the baby.' In July 2024, officials announced that whooping cough cases had begun increasing in Kentucky to levels not seen in over a decade. There were 543 cases of whooping cough reported in Kentucky in 2024, the highest number of cases in the commonwealth since 2012. Read more of the latest health and wellness news The cabinet said 247 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Kentucky this year, with officials anticipating cases increasing during the summer and fall, based on historic trends. FOX 56 chief medical contributor, Dr. Ryan Stanton, said whooping cough cases often show up in clusters throughout the year. Many U.S. states and other countries are also experiencing elevated levels of whooping cough. According to the Centers of Disease Control, early symptoms are usually mild, like a cold, and can include a runny nose, a low fever, and a mild cough. The CDC said those symptoms usually progress into many rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched 'whooping,' vomiting, and general exhaustion. The coughing can continue for up to 10 weeks or more. Babies may experience pauses in breathing rather than the signature whooping cough. What are the best places to work in Kentucky? Stargazing in Kentucky? Here are 5 parks you can visit for the best view UK Hospital still No. 1 in Ky., earns numerous recognitions in multiple specialties: Report The health department is asking parents to be sure school-age children have up-to-date vaccines. 'The vaccine's immunity tends to decrease over time, making the booster important for older children and adults, so talk to your provider to find out if you need a new dose!' the health department said. Anyone exposed to pertussis should get tested, officials said. Stanton said that whooping cough is high-risk for newborns and the elderly, but most cases are found in upper-middle and lower-high-school-age children. That's why he said up-to-date Tdap vaccinations are key. Read more of the latest trending news 'The tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis, this is the one you get when you cut yourself,' he said. 'But unfortunately, you know, we get them pretty regularly as children as we grow. But once we're an adult, we're not as prone to accidents. We don't cut ourselves quite as much. So, many people haven't had that up to date.' The pertussis immunization is given in combination with tetanus and diphtheria vaccines (DTaP and Tdap) and is required for Kentucky school children. Data from the 2045-2025 Kentucky school immunization survey shows that only 86% of kindergarteners and 85% of seventh graders are up to date on their required pertussis immunizations. With every pregnancy, to protect babies Infants at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months old Children, before starting kindergarten Teens between 11 to 12 years old Teens and adults every 10 years or sooner if an injury occurs Health care providers said early detection, with proper testing, is critical to prevent further spread. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
