As part of a concerted effort to ramp up protection for the state's younger population against preventable diseases, El Dorado County is signaling its intent to meet the health needs of preteens and teens head-on by throwing its weight behind the Adolescent Immunization Action Week running from Monday, April 7 to Friday, April 11, as reported by the El Dorado County's Health and Human Services Agency. The move, backed by the California Department of Public Health, highlights a proactive push to have parents ensure their adolescents are up to snuff with their shots.
Dr. Melody Law, El Dorado County's Interim Health Officer, is urging people to get the pertussis vaccine as its protection weakens during adolescence. She highlights the serious consequences, like severe coughing fits that can lead to broken ribs. In 2024, California saw over 2,000 whooping cough cases, a big jump from fewer than 400 the year before. It's not just about statistics—one tragic case involved an infant's death from the infection.
El Dorado County has seen an increase in whooping cough cases, rising from 2 in 2023 to 5 in 2024, with 5 more already reported in 2025. This highlights the importance of vaccines like Tdap, which are required for incoming 7th graders. Dr. Law also stressed the significance of the HPV vaccine in preventing cancer, pointing out the major progress made in reducing HPV infections and precancers since the vaccine was introduced 20 years ago.
As part of the awareness week, the El Dorado County Public Health Division is offering free walk-in immunization clinics to help those who may not have access to coverage, including the uninsured, Medi-Cal enrollees, and children of American Indian or Alaskan Native descent. These clinics provide important vaccines like HPV, Meningococcal, and Tdap. Dr. Law emphasized that the Meningococcal vaccine is crucial, as it protects against different strains of meningitis, a serious and potentially deadly disease. It’s also important to remember that a booster shot is needed at age 16.
For those interested and eligible, the county encourages bringing a child's immunization record to the clinics as an easy step toward protecting their health. A full list of clinic times and locations is available on the Public Health Division's announcement on El Dorado County's official website.
