TDAP vaccine offered through Logan County Department of Public Health/Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital partnership program

[February 05, 2016]   LINCOLN - In an effort to protect all newborns from the dangerous pertussis bacteria, the Logan County Department of Public Health (LCDPH) and Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital (ALMH) are partnering in an effort to provide the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) vaccine to family members of newborns.

Tdap is recommended to be given to adults who will have close contact with infants less than 12 months of age. Infants do not have a fully developed immune system and are more likely to contract pertussis – commonly known as whooping cough.

Whooping cough in babies can be a serious illness. It can cause breathing problems, pneumonia, and can sometimes be fatal. Very young infants are especially vulnerable since the whooping cough vaccine cannot be provided to babies until they are 2 months old. Infants too young to be vaccinated may run the risk of acquiring the pertussis infection from parents and family members who are not vaccinated.

“Vaccinating adult contacts may reduce the risk of transmitting pertussis to infants” said Dr. Steve Cochi, acting director of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s National Immunization Program. “Although pertussis is most serious in infants, it can also be serious in adults. Even adults who don’t typically come in contact with young children should be vaccinated.” If you have had a tetanus diphtheria (Td) shot within the last 10 years, you will still be eligible to receive the Tdap vaccine. Tdap is a once in a lifetime shot.

The LCDPH and ALMH encourage all family members of newborns to take advantage of the Tdap vaccination program. By taking these steps, families can help assure their newborn will be protected from the threat of pertussis bacteria and that all efforts are being made to support good health and disease prevention.

The staff at LCDPH will be holding clinics twice a week at ALMH starting February 8, 2016. For clinic times, please contact the obstetrics department at ALMH at 217-732-2161.

In addition to the ALMH clinics, the Tdap vaccine is also available at the LCDPH Mondays thru Thursdays from 7:30am to 4:00pm and on Fridays from 7:30am-11:30am. The Tdap vaccine can be billed to your insurance or the cost is $70 per vaccine. If you have questions, please contact Kara Davis, LCDPH director of nursing, at 217-735-2317.

[Don Cavi, MS, LEHP, Public Health Administrator, Logan County Department of Public Health]