CVS Health offering whooping cough vaccine to Texas residents as cases rise

With more than 3,500 confirmed cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in Texas this year, CVS Health® (NYSE:CVS) is offering the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine to Texas residents. MinuteClinic® walk-in medical clinics in the area have both vaccines available to help protect patients against whooping cough and can vaccinate patients 18 months and older. CVS Pharmacy® also offers the Tdap vaccine for adolescents and adults.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Early symptoms appear similar to a common cold. One to two weeks after the first symptoms start, people may develop paroxysms, known as coughing fits, which can last up to 10 weeks. Babies and young children may not cough but may have difficulty breathing instead. Potential complications can be serious and require hospitalization, and severe complications include pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death. Symptoms can appear five to 10 days after exposure but may take up to three weeks to develop.

Babies younger than 1 year old are at greatest risk of getting whooping cough and having severe complications from it. People with pre-existing medical conditions, such as immunocompromising conditions and moderate to severe asthma that may be worsened by whooping cough, are at high risk of developing a severe infection. People can be contagious for weeks, and some people may experience mild symptoms and unknowingly spread the bacteria to others. The CDC reports that many babies who get whooping cough are infected by older siblings, parents or caregivers who don’t know they have it.

Vaccination is the most effective way to help protect people from whooping cough and MinuteClinic is offering the DTaP and Tdap vaccine at 96 clinic locations across the state of Texas. CVS Pharmacy offers the Tdap vaccine at more than 700 locations in Texas.[1] Individuals who have been exposed to someone with whooping cough should talk to a healthcare provider about preventative antibiotics. It is also important for anyone who has not been vaccinated to receive a DTaP or Tdap vaccine to help protect against pertussis (also tetanus and diphtheria) during future whooping cough exposure.

Patients aged 18 months through six years old can receive the DTaP vaccine at MinuteClinic locations. Nurse practitioners and physician associates can provide the recommended fourth dose of the vaccination to children 18 months old and the fifth dose at 4 to 6 years old. The first three DTaP doses, if planned to be given during the recommended age of 2 to 6 months old, cannot be administered at CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic. Patients who are 11 years or older can receive the Tdap vaccine at MinuteClinic or CVS Pharmacy. DTaP and Tdap vaccines are generally covered by health insurance, but patients should check with their individual plan to confirm.

While walk-ins are accepted at MinuteClinic and CVS Pharmacy, patients are encouraged to schedule a vaccination appointment at CVS.com or via the CVS Health app in advance to ensure vaccine availability. Vaccination appointments at MinuteClinic can also be scheduled by visiting MinuteClinic.com.

[1] Vaccines are available when an immunizing pharmacist or MinuteClinic provider is on duty, while supplies last.