Recently, whooping cough (pertussis), a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing, has spread rapidly throughout California, causing state legislators to implement a new law requiring children to be vaccinated.
Beginning July 1 for the ’11-’12 school year, Assembly Bill 354 requires middle school and high school students to be immunized against pertussis before starting school. The vaccine will protect students against the widespread disease, which officially became an epidemic in California during 2010.
During this outbreak, 10 infants died who were too young to be immunized, according to Fresno County. Getting a booster now will protect against the threat of pertussis, and meet new school requirements.
For the ’11-12 school year only, all students entering seventh through twelfth grades will need proof of an adolescent whooping cough booster shot (Tdap) before starting school.
By law, students who do not have proof of receiving a Tdap booster shot (tetanus-diphtheria shot, Td) will be unable to start school unless proof is provided to the school.
Getting the whooping cough vaccination for an adolescent will not only protect children against the ongoing threat of whooping cough, but also allows them to meet this new regulation.
Doctor Maryland Felker, Pediatrician at Northwest Medical Center explains that it is important to be vaccinated.
“You can get whooping cough and spread it to those who are not vaccinated because they are most susceptible to illness,” Dr. Felker said. “Students who do not get the vaccine and contract the illness can expect to be out of school for up to three weeks.”
Dr. Felker expresses the main side-affects of the booster shot.
“Basically it is like a regular flu shot, so your arm will probably be sore and you may feel a bit under the weather for two or three days,” Felker said.
Severe episodes of coughing start about 10 to 12 days after contact with bacteria. For children, the coughing often ends with a “whoop” noise when the patient tries to take a breath. Coughing spells may lead to vomiting or a short loss of consciousness.
Initial symptoms are a slight fever over 100 degrees, runny nose and, in some cases, diarrhea. Similar to the common cold, pertussis usually develops about a week after exposure to the bacteria. Pertussis should always be considered when vomiting occurs along with coughing. For infants, choking spells are common.
FC secretary Lisa Dooley also expresses concerns for students attending school with the whooping cough.
“If students come to school sick with this virus, then everyone else will probably get sick and miss school.” Dooley said. “Also, the law requires a student to get the vaccine before school, everyone will hopefully be immune to the horrible illness.”
For more news, read the May 12 article, Senior project tests nerves, comprehensive abilities.
