Monday, March 21, 2011

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccination Information

From the California Department of Education's Website

Information on whooping cough, including requirements for the Tdap vaccination and resources for local educational agencies and parents/guardians.

Assembly Bill 354 was signed into law in September 2010. As a result, students entering or advancing to grades seven through twelve in the 2011–12 school year are required to be immunized with a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine booster called Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap). The new requirement goes into effect July 1, 2011, for one year and affects all students—current, new, and transfers—in public and private schools.

On July 1, 2012, AB 354 will require only students who are entering or advancing into grade seven to be immunized with Tdap. Immunization with Tdap can protect students who have not yet been immunized against the ongoing risk of pertussis and meets the forthcoming requirement for the 2011–12 school year.

Tools & Resources

Sample Parent Notification Letters
Flyer for Students to Take Home to Parents About the New Requirement:

Web Banner (Outside Source)
Schools can download and use this banner on their district Web sites or other documents.

Shots for Schools Webinar (Outside Source)
Archived one-hour Webinar for school nurses and other school staff on the new whooping cough (Tdap) vaccination requirement.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) (Outside Source)
Information from the California Department of Public Health on whooping cough.

Local County Health Departments Listing (Outside Source)
Parents should contact their health care provider for more information about the new whooping cough (Tdap) vaccination requirement.

Shots for School (Outside Source)
The California Department of Public Health's Immunization Branch provides news and information for schools, parents, and healthcare providers about school immunization requirements in California.

Notices & Letters

Pertussis Immunization Requirements
February 1, 2011: Joint letter with the California Department of Education and the California Department of Public Health to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding new vaccination requirements per Assembly Bill 354.

CDE's Website HERE.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

When you state requirements for immunizations, please also state the California Health Safety Code exemption. CHSC, divison 105, Part 2, Chapter section 120365; parents have the right to opt out for medical, religious and philosophical reasons. There wasn't any information on the blog where parents could get a form stating that they opt out. I sent Dr. Nicoll an e-mail on 8/17/09, that schools don't tell parents about this. In fact, it has been my experience that they lie to parents.

Autumn G said...

At the CAC meeting the nurses from MDUSD have highly recommended our children get it, but we also been told that there are waivers if we choose for our children not to receive immunizations due to medical or religious reasons.

I think it is very fair to say at this point at all the CAC meeting no one has lied about this waivers.