The 24th Dragon*Con is coming up on Sept 3-6 in Atlanta, Georgia. Its full of fascinating stuff such as Comics, Pop Art, Lots of Fan tracks, Contests etc, and attracts about 30,000 people over a setup that is spread over four hotel convention centers. Its history goes back to 1987, and is a project of a local science fiction and gaming group, the Dragon Alliance of Gamers and Role-Players.
They also have a thriving skeptical track which has a very interesting side event this year, they have organized a free vaccine clinic.
Skepchick.org and the Women Thinking Free Foundation are encouraging individuals to protect the ones they love by vaccinating themselves against pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Pertussis is an infectious disease that can be passed from adults to infants, who can experience serious and sometimes fatal symptoms.
A free vaccination clinic will run Saturday (September 4) and Sunday (September 5) in the Mall at Peachtree Center, at the International Blvd entrance. Cobb & Douglas Public Health staff will be available to administer the vaccine from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This clinic will mark the launch of the “Hug Me, I’m Vaccinated!” campaign, which seeks to educate the general population about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
Pertussis is an infectious cough illness that often lasts several weeks. Adults and adolescents with pertussis may have few symptoms, but can carry the disease and pass it on to young children who are not fully immunized. Deaths from pertussis are rare, but most often occur in infants.
Adolescents and adults 11-64 years of age should receive one booster dose of the vaccine, which contains tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (known as a Tdap). Parents, family members and caregivers of infants less than 1 year of age can protect these infants by getting this vaccine.
With more than 30,000 people from around the world, many of whom have not received a Tdap vaccination this is an ideal opportunity. The free clinic, located close by the convention area, will provide an opportunity for attendees as well as the general public to receive a Tdap vaccination to protect themselves as well as their close contacts. All persons in and around the PeachTree Center Mall area on September 4th and 5th are invited to take advantage of the opportunity.