DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens announced that it’s offering pertussis vaccinations at all of its 130 pharmacies in Washington state, which has seen a jump in whooping cough cases this year.
According to Walgreens, the Washington State Department of Health said more than 380 cases of whooping cough have been reported, compared with 85 during the same time in 2014.
The tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is available daily on a walk-in basis at Walgreens stores during pharmacy hours and is covered by most insurance plans, the drug chain said.
“We support the recommendations of health officials and stress that vaccination is the best protection people can get from whooping cough,” Sepi Soleimanpour, Washington regional health care director for Walgreens, said in a statement. “Walgreens pharmacists continue to play an important role in providing more convenient access to vaccinations and other preventive services in communities across the state.”
Walgreens pharmacists in Washington can administer immunizations to people age 7 and older. The Washington State Department of Health recommends the Tdap vaccine for pregnant women; adults who provide care to infants and adults living in a household with an infant, including adults age 65 and older; and people age 11 and older who are not up to date on pertussis vaccinations.
