Gregoire taps emergency fund in fight against whooping cough
TACOMA, Wash -- The alarming spike in whooping cough in Washington has become so serious that Gov. Chris Gregoire is dipping into her emergency fund to help.
Whooping cough hasn't spread so rapidly in Washington since the 1940s, and health officials say everyone -- both children and adults -- should be vaccinated.
Bridget Vandeventer is expecting her first child, and she's not taking any chances.
"If you want to meet our kid, you've got to have the shot, that's what we're telling everyone right now," she said.
That might seem harsh, but it's not unwise. A baby died just last August after getting whooping cough from her mother.
"In the 13 years I've been Secretary of Health, I've never declared an epidemic before, and it is very worrisome," said Washington Secretary of Health Mary Selecky.
So far this year, Washington has had more than 1,100 reported cases of whooping cough. That's ten times higher than last year at the same time.
The state is now throwing every possible resource into stopping the epidemic. That's about $300,000 right now.
"We have already purchased enough vaccinations for all children up to the age of 18," Gregoire said.
The governor even took $90,000 out of her emergency fund to get the word out to everyone in the state.
"If we run out I will again tap the emergency fund of the governor to make sure uninsured adults who want the vaccination -- the booster -- can get it," she said.
Whooping cough hasn't spread so rapidly in Washington since the 1940s, and health officials say everyone -- both children and adults -- should be vaccinated.
Bridget Vandeventer is expecting her first child, and she's not taking any chances.
"If you want to meet our kid, you've got to have the shot, that's what we're telling everyone right now," she said.
That might seem harsh, but it's not unwise. A baby died just last August after getting whooping cough from her mother.
"In the 13 years I've been Secretary of Health, I've never declared an epidemic before, and it is very worrisome," said Washington Secretary of Health Mary Selecky.
So far this year, Washington has had more than 1,100 reported cases of whooping cough. That's ten times higher than last year at the same time.
The state is now throwing every possible resource into stopping the epidemic. That's about $300,000 right now.
"We have already purchased enough vaccinations for all children up to the age of 18," Gregoire said.
The governor even took $90,000 out of her emergency fund to get the word out to everyone in the state.
"If we run out I will again tap the emergency fund of the governor to make sure uninsured adults who want the vaccination -- the booster -- can get it," she said.
