The percentage of kindergarten students entering Washington schools without required immunizations dropped this school year to 4.5%, down from 6.0% for the 2010-2011 school year. Officials credit new rules making it more difficult to obtain exemptions
State is on pace to reach more than 3,000 cases for the year; levels that haven’t been seen in more than six decades.
Since the beginning of the year, 640 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Washington State. Last year by this time, only 94 cases had been reported.
The number of cases of whooping cough in Washington state increased by more than 50 percent between 2010 and 2011 from 608 cases to 912 cases — the highest number in six years.
The number of cases of whooping cough in Washington are up sharply this year with 431 cases reported in the state — 53 more than this time last year.
Getting an exemption is still possible but under a new law will require a visit to a health provider.
Whooping cough makes a comeback. Americans still aren’t eating their vegetables. Use of pills to treat diabetes up, insulin down.
Vaccinations aren’t just for kids any more: there’s battery of adult vaccinations should be part of your health care routine.
Babies under two months are too young to get the pertussis vaccine, so it’s important for parents and others in close contact to “cocoon” babies by getting immunized.
Children who have not been fully immunized have fallen ill in recent whooping cough and chickenpox outbreaks in the state.
More of Washington teens are up-to-date on their shots, but the state still has a way to go before it achieves recommended 90 percent target immunization rate.
Pertussis – or whooping cough – cases are on the rise in some areas of the country. Infants and children who haven’t been immunized can get seriously ill if infected.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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