Like the rest of Western Washington, Pierce County has seen a significant increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in 2012, say local health officials.

To help tackle rising rates, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is offering a free Tdap (tetanus, diptheria, pertussis) clinic at the health department, 3629 S. "D" St., this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children's immunizations will also be available.

Health department spokeswoman Bridget Vandeventer says 131 cases of whooping cough were confirmed in Pierce County from January 1 to April 21. This is a "significant" increase, says Vandeventer, as fewer than four months into 2012, the county has already surpassed the number of cases confirmed in all of 2011.

The monthly average has jumped from 11 cases per month to 34.

This year's Walk Tacoma series kicks off Wednesday with a celebration of National Walking Day.

Join fitness trainer Paige Van Der Vliet of Tacoma Living Fit, for a power walk, and Metro Parks' Erik Hanberg and Melissa McGinnis for a historical walk in Wright Park.

The walk begins at the lion statues at the South end of Wright Park at noon and will run about 1.5 miles in length.

Booths will provide information on walking events, cardiovascular health and event sponsors Downtown on the Go and the American Heart Association from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Our joint goal is for residents and employees to add walking into their daily routine, whether it is at a lunch break, parking a little further away for added exercise, or walking to and from work,” said Downtown On the Go Manager Kristina Walker in an official announcement.

Downtown on the Go and the American Heart Association are making a connection to encourage community members to adopt an active lifestyle and for companies to encourage employees to incorporate physical activity each day.

Need a doctor? Don't have time to wait? An online service launched by MultiCare in December may be able to help you out.

Urgent Care wait times are now available online, at www.multicare.org/waittimes. Estimated wait times are generated based on how many people are currently in the clinics, and give patients an idea of how long it could take for them to be taken to an exam room. 

"The reason we're able to do these kinds of things is because MultiCare is one of the few health systems in the United States to have a complete electronic health record system, which we began in 1998," says MultiCare representative Cole Cosgrove.

Urgent Care clinics exist to help people who are ill or injured but whose conditions don't pose an immediate, significant risk to their lives or health.

A list of Urgent Care clinics is available here.