Bartell Drugs has partnered with the Snohomish Health District to provide reduced-fee or free whooping-cough vaccines to low-income families and those without health insurance.

An outbreak of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is spreading throughout Washington state. In Snohomish County, 270 cases have been reported since the beginning of 2012, according to the Snohomish Health

District.

Nine Snohomish County Bartell Drugs pharmacies participating in the program include locations at:

• 22833 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell

• 18001 Bothell-Everett Highway, Bothell

The vaccines are available for a voluntary administration fee of $15 per patient injection. In order to qualify for a free vaccine, patients should be uninsured and at 200 percent of the 2012 federal poverty limit guidelines.