From Chisago County Public Health

Parents are usually quick to get their children immunized and to make sure all their shots are up-to-date, but most don't consider that they need immunizations as well. They do—all adults do—especially if they don't want to come down with a serious case of the flu, or even whooping cough.

So what is "whooping cough?" It's a cough that's so severe it can cause vomiting and broken ribs, and can lead to weeks of missed work or even hospitalization. But who gets whooping cough? According to the experts, about a million people in the U.S. become infected with this disease every year. To avoid being one of the million who will suffer from whooping cough this year, talk to your doctor about getting a Tdap booster.

And getting immunized is not just a matter of adults protecting themselves. The Tdap booster can also prevent the spread of whooping cough to infants who are too young to be vaccinated and are at risk for even more serious complications. Are you an uninsured adult? Chisago County Public Health has Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis) and Td (tetanus/diphtheria) boosters available at a reduced cost for uninsured adults. Contact them at (651) 213-5231 if it has been 10 or more years since your last booster.

What happens if an adult catches the flu and then passes it on to a family member? That can be especially dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women, or infants who are too young to be vaccinated. For those at high-risk, the flu can result in very serious complications. 

The flu is one of the top 10 killers in the U.S. More than 46,000 people die from the flu every year in this country—most are over the age of 65. If you've got any chronic health condition like asthma, diabetes, lung disease, or heart problems, you're also in the high-risk category where a simple case of the flu can lead to pneumonia or other complications.