New Law Requires Students to Get Whooping Cough Vaccine

Along with backpacks, binders, and pens, keep “pertussis vaccine” at the top of your back-to-school list. If your child will enter grades 7 through 12, you need to provide proof of the shot according to a state law.

Last week, both houses of the state Legislature approved a law that would give parents and students until 30 days after school starts to show proof of vaccination against whooping cough. Without it, they won’t be allowed to stay in school.

The new law actually grants a 30-day extension for the vaccination because an earlier law would have required students to be vaccinated by the first day of school. However, school and health officials found that many students around the state weren’t on track to have the vaccination by the first day of school.

The vaccine requirement aims to prevent another outbreak of pertussis—known as whooping cough—which surged to epidemic proportions in California in 2010. More than 9,000 cases of pertussis were reported in California, the highest number in more than 60 years. In a distinction we could do without, more than half of all pertussis cases in the U.S. occurred in California last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is Pertussis aka Whooping Cough?

Pertussis begins with coldlike symptoms—low fever, runny nose, sneezing and mild cough. The illness progresses to severe fits of coughing that can last for months and that can make breathing difficult.  A high-pitched “whoop” follows the paroxysms of coughing. Highly contagious, pertussis was responsible for 10 deaths in California last year; nine of those victims were infants younger than 2 months old.

The required Tdap booster shot protects your child from pertussis, as well as diphtheria and tetanus. Most children had initial Tdap shots before starting school at age 5 or 6. The immunity from these shots wears off after several years, which is why the booster is required now.

ABC Unified District Notifies Parents-Guardians of New Law

has begun notifying parents and guardians of students of these new requirements via letters and postcards by mail. (See attached letter in the image carousel.) 

The district letter states that:

A record of the Tdap vaccination must be on file in your child’s school health record. Verification of Tdap vaccination must include the following:

• Tdap must be recorded on student’s immunization card: A staff member in the doctor’s office, immunization clinic and/or health official must record Tdap vaccination on the student’s immunization card.
• Date of vaccination: Health officials must record the date of vaccination.
• Doctor’s Office Stamp or signature: Immunization record must include the official stamp from the provider or signature of person giving vaccination.

The letter also states that once your child has received the vaccine to send a copy of the immunization record to the school office staff or bring the record to the school for copying.

If your child hasn’t had the Tdap booster, there’s still time, but don’t delay. Call your child’s doctor to check on availability of the Tdap booster. Appointments for a shot only are often quicker and easier to get than being seen for illness. 

Where Do I Get the Vaccine?

Local resources for vaccination include:

• Student’s with insurance should obtain the vaccine from the student’s regular doctor
• Students without insurance may utilize the District’s immunization clinics. These clinics are located at:
  • Fedde Middle: Tuesday and Thursday, 7:45-8:45 (562-926-5566, Ext. 24670)
  • : Monday and Wednesday, 7:45-8:45 (562-926-5566, Ext. 22792)
• Call the Los Angeles County Information line at 2-1-1
• Visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip for referral to providers and community sites offering free or low-cost immunizations. Present this letter and your student’s immunization record to the health care provider at the time of your appointment. 

Remember, no vaccination means your child cannot attend school in the fall. If you have any questions about these new requirements, contact the district at (562) 926-5566.