Keeping Kids Safe Takes Partnership

Although Cobb County officials continue to see cases of Pertussis, they are determined to protect infants from this and all other vaccine preventable diseases. During National Infant Immunization week, April 24–May 1, it is important to ensure infants and their care givers, are current on their DTaP or Tdap, as well as other vaccines.

Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough”, is an infectious cough illness that often lasts for several weeks. Adults and adolescents with Pertussis may have few or little symptoms, but can carry this disease and pass it on to infants and small children, who are not fully immunized when very young and for whom the disease can be very serious and even fatal. Deaths from Pertussis are rare, but most often occur in infants. Adolescents and adults 11-64 years of age should receive one booster dose of Tdap. This vaccine contains tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis. Parents, family members and caregivers of infants less than 1 year of age can protect these infants by getting this vaccine.

According to Karen Thomas, District Immunization Director, Cobb & Douglas Public Health, caregivers should recognize that protecting infants is a partnership. “It is extremely important for parents and caregivers to ensure that not only are infants immunized but that anyone who comes in contact with children is immunized with Tdap so they do not give the disease to infants too young to be protected by vaccination.

This year, CDPH has some help getting the word out. “Thanks to the excellent partnership between the Marietta Kiwanis, WellStar Cobb Hospital, WellStar Kennestone Hospital, local daycare centers, church nurseries and schools, we were able to reach record numbers of people with our message,” said Lisa Crossman, Director of Clinical & Prevention Services.

Individuals are encouraged to talk to their primary care provider or contact Cobb & Douglas Public Health at 770-514-2349. An appointment is not required at the Marietta Public Health Center to be vaccinated. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Caregivers who want to find out which vaccines their children need, can go to the CDC Website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm. Click on Interactive Child Scheduler for children, birth to 6 years of age. It will ask for your child’s birth date and this will allow you to see what vaccines are needed and at what age they are to be given.