The City of El Paso Department of Public Health announced Feb. 16 that over the past seven weeks, five cases of pertussis were reported in the area. A total of six cases were reported in all of 2011, and eight were reported in 2010. This high number of cases has local officials strongly urging parents and family members to follow immunization recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

(Picture:   A child with broken blood vessels in eyes and bruising on face due to pertussis coughing.)

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health’s Immunization Program offers the DTaP (for infants and children)and Tdap (for pre-teens, teens and adult) vaccines, which protect from pertussis as well as tetanus, and diphtheria at its five clinic locations across the city. Clients must be uninsured and meet eligibility requirements. The cost is either $10 for one vaccine or $20 for more than one vaccine during a single visit.  For more:  http://www.elpasotexas.gov/health/immunization.asp or (915) 771-5740. .

In related news across the nation:

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday (Feb. 15) reported, "Pediatricians fed up with parents who refuse to vaccinate their children out of concern it can cause autism or other problems increasingly are "firing" such families from their practices, raising questions about a doctor's responsibility to these patients. Medical associations don't recommend such patient bans, but the practice appears to be growing, according to vaccine researchers."
http://tinyurl.com/7zqae2f

USA Today recently reported, "Lawmakers in seven states are considering legislation that would make it easier for parents to opt out of mandatory immunization requirements for their children, sparking debate among public health experts and some parents." According to the article, all but two states —West Virginia and Mississippi — as well the District of Columbia, allow parents to opt out of school-required vaccines based on religious beliefs.  The legislation that is being considered would allow an opt-out for "philosophical beliefs."
http://tinyurl.com/6son9cm