Some Seniors Concerned Over Whooping Cough

their free flu shot today in palm desert — at the joslyn center — during the annual health fair. but there’s another illness that’s hitting california — whooping cough. the state department of public health is calling it an epidemic. newschannel 3’s gil diaz finds out if our local seniors are protecting themselves from illness. over 600 people got their flu shots wednesday — at the joslyn center’s annual health fair. “i believe in staying healthy and avoiding the pitfalls.” but — another illness is affecting california — hooping cough. according to the state department of public health — 279 new cases of it were diagnosed this week — bringing the total number over 62- hundred. “there are a lot of hospitalizations —even deaths –in the state this year. i think it is the worst cases of whooping cough in last 50 years.” ten deaths have been reported — all infants younger than three months. health professionals encourage everyone who has contact with infants to get vaccinated. “this meaning aunts, uncles, grandparents, nannies.” “administrators at the joslyn center tell me — they know of at least two cases of whooping cough among their clients. but they say — the illness did not spread because those two people stayed home.” russel and barbie smart — hold different views about protecting themselves from the whooping cough cris. “i haven’t done any research on it, but i plan on it, especially since i have little great- grandchildren.” “at my age, it doesn’t make any difference for me. why not? i’m 76. my dad, all of my uncles — they died before 75 so i’ve already outlived them.” another reason some seniors are not too concerned about the whooping cough — is because they don’t know the facts. health officials say — the whooping cough vaccine wears off over time. so that means — seniors who received got vaccinated when they were kids need to be vaccinated again. gil diaz nc3 palm desert stagecoach organizers make