According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of whooping
cough cases in the United States could reach a 50-year high in 2012. The
CDC's forecast is based on the fact that, as of July 2012, twice as many
cases of whooping cough - or pertussis as it's referred to clinically -
had been reported to the CDC thus far this year as compared to the same
point in 2011. The CDC says that more than 22,000 cases of whooping
cough - as well as 13 deaths - have been reported to the CDC through
Aug. 11, 2012. In light of this disturbing and potentially deadly trend, Health
Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT) is working to increase awareness regarding the
importance of infants, children, adolescents and adults getting a
whooping cough vaccine or booster shot.
"Whooping cough is a highly contagious, potentially fatal disease that
can cause violent coughing spasms for up to 10 weeks," explains Jonathan
Scheff, M.D., chief medical officer for Health Net, Inc. "That's why
Health Net is committed to educating the public about the importance of
getting the whooping cough vaccination." Scheff added, "The CDC reports
that unvaccinated children have eight times the risk for contracting
whooping cough than do those children who receive the vaccine. Also,
when vaccinated children do come down with the disease, not only are
their symptoms milder, but they are less likely to pass their infection
onto others."
Scheff went on to say that, in California, receipt of the vaccine is
legally required for students in the seventh through twelfth grades. As
a result of a law passed in September 2010, students in California who
are entering the seventh grade, as well as transfer students who are
entering the eighth through twelfth grades, must show proof of having
received a whooping cough booster shot.
Spreading the whooping cough word online
In anticipation of the projected rise in whooping cough cases, Health
Net helped to create an innovative, social-media driven campaign to
educate teens about the importance of getting vaccinated. The campaign,
which is targeted toward teens ages 13 through 18 and can be accessed
nationwide at http://www.t2x.me/,
was launched last year as part of T2X, a health-literacy, social media
program that was created through a partnership between Health Net, UCLA
Fielding School of Public Health and EPG Technologies.
"Our whooping cough educational campaign is designed not only to inform
teens about the importance of getting vaccinated, but also to help them
feel comfortable about actually getting the vaccine," explains Nancy
Wongvipat Kalev, MPH, Health Net's director of Health Education and
Cultural Linguistic Services. "As a final component of the campaign,"
she adds, "we provide teens with tools to take the step of making a
vaccination appointment."
The whooping cough campaign - which features whooping cough facts,
quizzes and videos - utilizes a variety of digital platforms to engage
and inform teens about this pressing medical issue. Feedback received
thus far from teens who've explored the campaign's multi-faceted
components indicates that their knowledge about whooping cough has
increased, and they're more positively inclined to get the vaccine.
Whooping cough vaccination recommendations
The CDC notes that there are two types of whooping cough vaccines - DTaP
for infants and children - and Tdap for adolescents and adults. The CDC
points out that Tdap is particularly important for family members
residing with an infant and for those who provide care for infants.
Following is a brief summary of the CDC's whooping cough vaccination
recommendations:
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Infants and children should receive five doses of the DTaP
vaccine: one each at ages 2, 4 and 6 months, 15 through 18 months, and
4 through 6 years. All five doses are needed for maximum protection.
Children ages 7 through 10 who are not fully vaccinated with DTaP
should receive a dose of Tdap instead of waiting for the
11-to-12-year-old checkup.
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Adolescents should receive the Tdap vaccine at their regular
checkup at age 11 or 12. If teenagers (13 through 18 years) missed
getting the Tdap vaccine, parents should ask their health care
provider about getting it for them now.
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Adults 19 years and older, who have not previously received a
Tdap vaccine, should get a one-time dose of Tdap in place of the Td
booster they're recommended to receive every 10 years. There's no need
to wait until you are due for your Td booster. The dose of Tdap can be
given earlier than the 10-year mark since the last Td booster.
Receiving Tdap may be especially important during a community outbreak
and/or if caring for an infant. Adults should consult with their
health care provider about what's best for their specific situation.
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Pregnant women who have not been previously vaccinated with
Tdap should get one dose of Tdap during the third trimester or late in
the second trimester, or as soon as possible after delivery or before
leaving the delivery center.
Hexavalent vaccine can reduce spread of whooping cough