The Pennsylvania Department of Health has declared an official outbreak of pertussis, better known as whooping cough, in Indiana County and the department is offering free vaccines through a clinic to be held tomorrow at the county’s state health center.
The clinic will be held from 2-6 PM on Thursday at the Health Center on 75 North 2nd Street. The free clinic will offer a Tdap vaccination shot which covers tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis. The state Health Department is encouraging anyone between 10 and 64 years old to take advantage of the clinic, especially if they are around pregnant women or young children.
This announcement comes on the heels of confirmed cases of whooping cough in three of Indiana County’s School Districts, including Indiana, Penns Manor and Marion Center School District. When those cases were announced, the district sent out information from the health department on whooping cough. The disease is spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Once a student or faculty member is confirmed to have whooping cough, they are advised to stay home for 15 days from the onset of symptoms or five days after they begin taking antibiotics.
