Whooping cough prevention

I was very sorry to hear of the recent New Mexico infant whooping cough deaths, one in San Miguel County. The state Department of Health has information important to all families and caregivers of infants about protecting them. Since babies are too small to be vaccinated against whooping cough, and aren’t fully protected until they get all their boosters, all adults who will be around them need to get an update to their pertussis vaccine.

Many health providers  and birthing hospitals in New Mexico are providing new mothers with this shot (Tdap) — don’t forget dad, grandma, grandpa and any other adult family member or  caregiver. Even if you were vaccinated as a child, you should get a booster every 10 years. Unfortunately, we don’t always know if a child who may be around the baby is vaccinated or not. New Mexico was allowing people to object vaccination  for them and their children due to their beliefs; that has changed and it must now be due to a religious belief.

If an unvaccinated person is exposed to whooping cough, they can infect infants and the results can be  devastating.

Please vaccinate. We are so fortunate in New Mexico that all children under age 18 can get vaccinated without cost!

My prayers and condolences go out to the families who have lost their precious babies.

Yolanda Cruz
Las Vegas