County Health Center offers free vaccinations this month

The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center is offering free tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccinations to adults during September.

The vaccine has been provided for free by the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services.

Symptoms of tetanus include muscle tightening and stiffness throughout the body. Diphtheria can cause a thick coating to form in the back of the throat that can lead to breathing problems and death. Symptoms of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, include sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild, occasional cough, according to information from the health center.

The vaccination is recommended for parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and baby sitters of infants, as well as anyone who has not had a tetanus vaccine in five years.

Walk-ins are welcome from 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday during September at the public health center, 1121 Linden St. in Cape Girardeau.

Pertinent address:

1121 Linden St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.