Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Información en Español

Pertussis (whooping cough) is at epidemic levels in California. The disease causes coughing fits that make it hard to breathe. It spreads easily when someone with the disease coughs or sneezes. It can kill young babies.

• Everyone needs to be up-to-date on their whooping cough shots.
• Newborn babies are too young for the shots.
• Protection from the disease or the shots wears off, so people 7 years and older may need a booster shot.

On this page:

• Where to Get a Whooping Cough Vaccination
• For the Community
• For Health Providers

Where to Get a Whooping Cough Vaccination

Whooping cough adolescent-adult booster vaccine (Tdap) is appropriate for:

• anyone 7 years and older who is not fully immunized, including those who are more than 64 years old,
• women of childbearing age, before, during, or immediately after pregnancy, and
• other people who have contact with pregnant women or infants.

Whooping Cough Vaccinations for 7th - 12th Grade Students
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Community Clinics Offering Immunizations

The best place to get immunizations is your doctor's office or clinic as part of personal regular health maintenance.

The following family clinics offer medical care and immunizations to established patients. Those listed with a * offer limited immunization services to the public, but encourage establishing care as well.

Cloverdale

Alexander Valley Regional Medical Center*
6 Tarman Dr., Cloverdale
894-4229

Healdsburg

Alliance Medical Center*
1381 University Ave., Healdsburg
433-5494

Petaluma

Petaluma Health Center*
1179 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma
559-7500

Rohnert Park

Jewish Community Free Clinic*
490 City Center Dr., Rohnert Park
585-7780

Santa Rosa

Vista Family Health Center
3569 Round Barn Circle, Santa Rosa
303-3600

Roseland Children's Health Center
962 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa
578-2005

Sonoma County Indian Health Project, Inc.
144 Stony Point Rd., Santa Rosa
521-4500

Santa Rosa Community Health Center at Lombardi Court
751 Lombardi Ct., Ste. B, Santa Rosa
547-2222

Sonoma

Sonoma Valley Community Health Center*
430 W. Napa St., Ste. F, Sonoma
939-6070

West County

Occidental Area Health Center*
3802 Main St., Occidental
874-2444

Russian River Health Center*
16319 3rd St., Guerneville
869-2849

Sebastopol Community Health Center*
6800 Palm Ave., Ste. C-2, Sebastopol
824-9999

Windsor

Alliance Medical Center*
8465 Old Redwood Hwy, Ste. 400, Windsor
433-5494

Various Locations

St. Joseph Mobile Health Clinic
Clinics throughout Sonoma County. Call for day/time.
547-4612

This is not a complete list of locations where vaccinations are available. Most medical providers and many commercial pharmacies also offer vaccinations, and may be contacted to check for availability.

The Department of Health Services makes no assumption of quality and makes no warranties regarding providers appearing on this list. This list is simply a public listing provided for customer convenience, and is not a recommendation or endorsement by the Department.

For the Community

Whooping Cough Signs and Symptoms: Be Aware, Treat it Early (pdf) posted 8/11/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Las señales y síntomas de la tos ferina: Sea Consciente, Trátela Temprano (pdf) posted 8/11/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Protecting Your Baby From Serious Infections (pdf) updated 8/3/10
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Protegiendo A Su Bebé Contra Infecciones Graves (pdf) updated 8/3/10
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Whooping Cough is on the Rise in California: Protect Your Baby (pdf) posted 6/23/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

La Tos Ferina está aumentando en California: Protege a tu bebé (pdf) posted 6/23/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Parents: Protect Yourself and Your Children from Whooping Cough (pdf) posted 6/23/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Padres: ¡Protéjanse y protejan a sus hijos contra la tos ferina! (pdf) posted 6/23/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Protect Your New Baby From Whooping Cough (English/Spanish) (pdf) posted 5/28/10
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

For Health Providers

General Information

Pertussis Fact Sheet
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases.

Case Definition

CDPH Quicksheet: Pertussis (pdf) posted 5/28/10
Includes clinical case definition, clinical symptoms, modes of transmission, and more.
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Forms

Sample Form: When to Administer Tdap Vaccine (assessment form) (pdf) posted 8/5/10
Source: California Department of Public Health..

Sample Form: Tdap Authorization Record - Spanish (pdf) updated 7/28/10
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Sample Form: Assessment and Consent for Tdap Immunization (pdf) updated 7/28/10
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Confidential Morbidity Report
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Guidance

2011 Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Immunization Requirements for Students (pdf) posted 10/15/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Immunization Recommendations for Employees Covered by ATD Standards (PPT) posted 8/5/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Pertussis Vaccination Recommendations 2010 (pdf) posted 7/28/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Clinical Guidance: Pertussis in Young Infants posted 6/18/10
Appendix IV includes contact information for four Pediatric Infectious Diseases programs in California that may be called for management advice and decisions (available 24 hours a day). Also listed is one group of intensivists who may be contacted regarding PICU care (available 24 hours a day).
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Prevention of Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Their Infants
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), May 30, 2008 / 57(04);1-47,51.

Preventing Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Among Adults: Use of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), December 15, 2006 / 55(RR17);1-33.

2005 Guidelines: Recommended Antimicrobial Agents for the Treatment and Postexposure Prophylaxis of Pertussis
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis: Recommendations for Vaccine Use and Other Preventive Measures
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Immunization Practices Advisory Committee.

Healthcare Worker Education

If You Work in a Health Care Setting: It's Time for your Tetanus Booster (pdf) posted 8/3/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Si trabaja en un ambiente de atención de la salud: ¡Es hora de ponerse la vacuna de refuerzo contra el tétanos! (pdf) posted 8/3/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Pertussis is Peaking: Take Action! (pdf) posted 8/3/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

La tos ferina ha llegado a un punto crítico. ¡Actuemos! (pdf) posted 8/3/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Patient Education

See "For the Community".

Testing and Laboratory Guidance

Pertussis: Laboratory Testing (pdf) posted 5/28/10
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Vaccine

Td/Tdap Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) posted 7/20/10
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.