Thousands of insured children who may have received vaccines from county health departments are now being encouraged to go to their family doctors for their shots.

Parents should be aware that the bacterial infection pertussis, commonly referred to as whooping cough, is being seen at a higher rate than in previous years in the community.

With the recent death of an infant in Maricopa County from pertussis (whooping cough), the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AzAAP) is renewing its plea for parents to not only immunize their children, but also make sure entire families are up to date on their vaccinations to protect newborns too young to receive immunizations.

The vaccine against whooping cough falters after only about three years, a preliminary study suggests, adding support to school rules requiring kids to get the vaccination periodically.

Arizona infants lag behind when it comes to getting the full list of recommended immunizations by the time they turn 2, health officials say.

Arizona infants lag behind when it comes to getting the full list of recommended immunizations by the time they turn 2, health officials say.