Special Whooping Cough Booster Offered at SVECC

Due to the state's new legislation requiring middle and high school students to show proof of Tdap (pertussis) immunization, the county is offering various clinics for boosters in the next few weeks, including at the , on Aug. 11 from 1-5 p.m.

Students who are covered under a health insurance plan may get the Tdap vaccine from their primary care physician. Those without medical insurance can obtain the shot from a local retail pharmacy for a fee, or from a County public health center or booster clinic.  Clinic information is listed below.

“Our public health centers are offering limited doses of the Tdap shot during special hours on specific days to help meet demand for the pertussis booster,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “We continue to remind parents to take care of this early to avoid delays with enrollment.”

Along with the Spring Valley location, here are the other pertussis booster clinics in the county:

•  Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fallbrook Community Resource Center, 130 E. Alvarado St., Fallbrook ; 75 doses available.

• Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the South Region Public Health Center, 690 Oxford St., Chula Vista ; 80 doses available.

•  Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Elementary School, 4063
Polk Ave., San Diego; 300 doses available. 

•  Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mountain Empire High School, 3305 Buckman Springs Road, Pine Valley ; 100 doses available.

• Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Southern Indian Health Center, 4058 Willows Road, Alpine; 100 doses available.

A typical case of pertussis starts with a cough and runny nose for one to two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever, if present, is usually mild. The disease is treatable with antibiotics. For more information about whooping cough, please call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit the website at www.sdiz.org.