In a California Healthline report by Rachel Dornhelm, experts discussed the rise in pertussis, or whooping cough, in California. The disease was nearly eradicated in the state through vaccination, but now almost 10% of California’s kindergartners have not had their immunizations. Last year more than 10,000 cases of pertussis were reported statewide, and two infants died from it.
The report includes comments from:
- James Cherry, a researcher and professor of pediatrics at UCLA School of Medicine;
- Kathleen Harriman, chief of the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Department at the California Department of Public Health;
- Paul Katz, senior pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente, San Rafael Medical Center; and
- Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a practicing pediatrician in Sacramento (Dornhelm, California Healthline, 01/14/14)
You can download a PDF of this report.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.Some elements may be removed from this article due to republishing restrictions. If you have questions about available photos or other content, please contact khnweb@kff.org.