Des Moines Bartell Drugs Offering Low-Cost Whooping Cough Vaccines

King County Public Health announced Wednesday (June 13) that people without health insurance or who can’t afford to pay for whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine are now able to get it for a low-cost at various pharmacies – including two Des Moines Bartell Drugs – made available with help from the AmeriCares patient assistance program. “Whooping cough continues at high levels in King County and vaccine is the best protection against the disease,” reads a statement on the county’s website. Bartell Drugs has two locations in Des Moines:

• Bartell Drugs, 21615 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines
• Bartell Drugs, 27055 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines

The other closest pharmacies offering the vaccine are:

• Bartell Drugs, 14901 4th Ave SW, Burien
• Bartell Drugs, 9600 15th Ave SW, White Center.

A full listing of other local pharmacy locations with low cost vaccines, as well as locations with vaccine at full cost for those with insurance, is available here (PDF file). Here’s more info from the county’s website:

In addition, low-cost whooping cough vaccines for children and adults are also available from many community health care centers and clinics. People seeking low-cost whooping cough booster shots should check with their healthcare providers. Health care providers and pharmacies may charge a fee up to $15.60 to give the vaccine. In comparison, the normal cost of the Tdap booster shot without insurance is from $60-$100. People who cannot afford the administration fee can ask to have the fee waived. Vaccine protects against whooping cough, and prevents the disease from spreading to infants, pregnant women, and others. People of all ages can get whooping cough, but infants are at greatest risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death. Pregnant women with whooping cough near the time of delivery may spread it to their newborns. Talk to your health care provider to make sure all children, teens and adults in your household are up-to-date with whooping cough vaccine, especially if they are in contact with infants or pregnant women. For more information about whooping cough (pertussis) and where to get vaccine, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/pertussis.

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