Whooping Cough: Law Says Get Kids Vaccinated

A new state law requires students in grades 7 through 12 to show proof that they received the whooping cough vaccination– or else they can't go to school when it starts in August.

That goes for every public and private school in California.

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District has sent out reminders to parents since last year, said district spokesman Terry Koehne.

“We're trying to promote the heck out of it so that nobody can show up to school and say they didn't know," he said.

In the 2012-13 school year, only incoming seventh graders will need to show proof of vaccination.

The district never has tracked how many students got the vaccine, Koehne said. So this year will be a first.

The law – Assembly Bill 354 – allows for families to opt out of the vaccine if it goes against some personal belief or if there's a medical reason.

Koehne said he's not aware of any opt-outs. Contra Costa Health Services says 2 percent of kindergartners in Contra Costa County are exempted from all vaccines.

California is in the midst of a whooping cough epidemic, according to the state's Department of Public Health.

In 2010, nine infants died. The reported number of whooping cases that year were the highest since 1947, according to public health officials.

Disease activity remains high this year, but no deaths have been reported.

Infants younger than six months are the most susceptible because of their tiny lungs. Whooping cough, called pertussis, is a very contagious bacterial sickness that infects the respiratory tract and is spread through coughing and sneezing.

The disease causes a sharp hacking cough punctuated by a quick wheezing breath that sounds like a "whoop."

The cough starts like a common cold: runny nose, fever, dry coughs. About a week later, the cough becomes strong enough to cause vomiting and shortness of breath. The coughing can last for months. 

Children typically receive the pertussis vaccine at 2, 4 and six months of age, and at 1 year,  said Erika Jenssen, Contra Costa County Health Services immunization coordinator. They also receive a booster before starting kindergarten and around 9 or 10 years of age. 

The Tdap booster is preservative free and "very safe," said Jenssen. It also provides protection against diptheria and tetanus. 

The requirement that a student show proof of vaccination goes into effect July 1, but school officials say proof can be shown before that date. 

Students can meet it by receiving one dose of the Tdap vaccine on or after their 7th birthday. 

Your child's doctor should have the immunization records. Kaiser Permanente members can view their child's immunization record online to verify whether he or she has received the Tdap booster.  

A printout of the Kaiser immunization record is acceptable as proof of the Tdap vaccination.

For more information, go to the school district's website at srvusd.net or the state health department site at www.cdph.ca.gov.