Panel: Gramps, get whooping cough shot

[October 28, 2010]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- A federal advisory panel is recommending that people 65 and older who are around infants get vaccinated against whooping cough.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices gave the advice Wednesday because of an outbreak of whooping cough this year in California, where more than 6,200 cases have been reported.

Nine of the 10 infants who have died were too young to be fully vaccinated against the disease.

Children get whopping cough vaccine in a series of shots beginning at 2 months.

Health officials believe elderly caregivers play a small role in spreading the contagious infection to infants. But a whooping cough vaccine is not currently recommended for the elderly.

Whooping cough cases tend to run in cycles. The last peak was in 2005.

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Online:

Vaccine panel:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/

[Associated Press; By MIKE STOBBE]

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