Citing "No Shots, No School" Law, County Urges Whooping Cough Booster Now for Students

Contra Costa County health officials are urging teens and their parents to act early to make sure students have an up-to-date vaccination against whooping cough before the next school year begins.

A new state law requires that students entering seventh through 12th grades for the 2011-12 school year show proof of receiving a "Tdap" booster, a combined vaccination for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (commonly known as whooping cough).

"I urge you to have your teen vaccinated now," Dr. William Walker, director of Contra Costa Health Services, said in a podcast. "Don't wait until just before school starts, when clinics will be packed with other students."

The law applies to public and private schools.

Although many children may have received shots for whooping cough as youngsters, the immunity provided by the shots wears off and a booster shot is needed, Walker said.

County health officials are taking special measures to encourage whooping cough vaccinations following a surge last year in the infectious and potentially deadly disease.

"Last year our state saw its worst outbreak of whooping cough in more than 50 years," Walker said. "Thousands of people fell ill. The unfortunate victims of this disease were our youngest. Ten babies died in California in 2010 from this preventable disease. Cases in Contra Costa jumped from just under 20 in 2009 to more than 200 last year."

Health Department immunization coordinator Erika Jenssen said in a news release last week that people should go to their health provider to get the vaccine. Those without insurance can go to www.cchealth.org to find Public
Health immunization clinics that offer the vaccine for a low fee, or in some cases, free. Jenssen said some grocery stores and pharmacies also offer the vaccines. 

More information about whooping cough and the new state law can be found on the Contra Costa Health Services website.