Kona Hospital to Provide Free Pertussis Vaccinations to Adults

Kona Community Hospital will be offering free tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccinations to adults at a clinic Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The clinic will be held at Christ Church Episcopal on Konawaena School Road in Kealakekua.

According to Jackie Murray, a nurse practitioner at the hospital, adults lose immunity from the TDAP vaccine by high school. While pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is not generally serious to adults, it can be deadly to infants and children, and adult vaccinations can help prevent spread of the disease to children.

Hospital officials said they have received 400 doses of the TDAP vaccine from the state Department of Health for use at Saturday’s clinic. It will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis to any adults over the age of 19 with the exception of pregnant women.

A hospital spokeswoman said the clinic was coordinated by County Councilwoman Brenda Ford in collaboration with hospital staff and volunteers.

Ford volunteered to assist while Murray administered 200 TDAP vaccines during the recent Tropic Care 2013 free clinics, the spokeswoman said.

For information, call Kona Community Hospital at 322-6960.