A mother’s devastating loss to whooping cough has driven her to advocate for vaccines, as the disease sees a surge in cases across Michigan. Veronica McNally lost her three-month-old daughter to the illness in 2012, after it ravaged her body.
This year, over 1,500 cases of whooping cough have been reported, more than 13 times what was seen in 2023. Medical leaders attribute the rise to lower vaccination rates, with only 37% of whooping cough patients having received a vaccine in the past five years.
Dr. Anna Groebe, a pediatrician, warns that unvaccinated infants are at risk of severe illness or death from pertussis. “It can be life-saving” to get vaccinated, she emphasizes.
To combat misinformation and encourage vaccination, McNally started the I Vaccinate campaign and Franny Strong Foundation. Her goal is to prevent other families from experiencing the pain and loss she endured.
Source: https://www.wxyz.com/news/michigan-reports-1-500-whopping-cough-cases-up-from-110-in-2023