Everyone wants to protect the health of newborns... which is why the Coastal Health District says vaccinations are important. That's because there have been 5 whooping cough cases this year.
"3 of those in the Savannah area. All of those were in infants less than 6 months of age."
Dr. Weems says it was a close call for one family.
"One of those infants was quite ill in the hospital. Fortunately is now recovering and doing better."
Whooping cough, also known as Pertussis, is an infection of the respiratory system.
While infant cases are on the rise across the country, Health Officials here are being cautious and urging all adults and children to be immunized.
"Adolescents and adults between the ages of 10 and 64 do need a booster usually given in combination with Tetanus and Diphtheria. We call it TDap to make sure that they are fully protected because those are usually the ones who spread the disease to those small infants who can't be protected."
Health officials say early diagnosis is critical in treating whooping cough.
"The younger the baby the more likely that baby is to have serious complications including pneumonia, hospitalizations, the possibility of seizures and even death."
Dr. Weems says you can protect yourself and infants by getting the vaccine without paying a penny.
"Right now through some stimulus funding that vaccine that TDap vaccine for adolescents and adults again between the ages of 10 and 64 is available at no charge through health departments."
Babies are able to get their first dose of the Pertussis vaccine at 2 months of age.
For more information on how you can get the vaccine for free, call your Health Department.
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