BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The State Department of Public Health recently declared whooping cough an epidemic, pleading with the public to get vaccinated. But now there may not be enough vaccines.

"Pertussis is now an epidemic in California," said Matt Constantine of the Public Health Department.

Families and infants have been flocking to clinics in search for the vaccine against pertussis, also known as whooping cough. Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that attacks the respiratory system. And while the health officials are on the attack against it, there aren't enough vaccines in the arsenal. "At this point we have a low supply," said Lucinda Wasson of the Public Health Department. The Public Health Department said it has about 350 vaccines for teens and adults but is ordering more. In the meantime,"They should call their private provider. Clinics in town have them probably in small supplies but everyone is increasing supplies as this epidemic continues," said Wasson.

So far, there have been 910 reported cases of whooping cough. At least five infants have died. "Most of the deaths that occur occur when an infant is under 3 months of age and that's because at that time they're not fully protected," said Wasson.

Infants cant get the pertussis vaccine until they are at least six weeks old. Which is why health officials are focusing on getting pregnant women vaccinated. "(Babies)catch it when they're born so if a mother has whooping cough or family have it when that infant is born and unprotected that's when they catch it," said Wasson.

Alex and Stephanie Harper are due to have their baby any day now. But when they found out about the epidemic, they decided to get vaccinated if they haven't already. "Because we're delivering in a hospital and hospitals carry lots of diseases," said Stephanie Harper.

"I'll definitely get the vaccine. I'm exposed to a lot of people at work so I could be bringing something home so it'd be a lot better for me to get the vaccine," said Alex Harper.