The whooping cough outbreak has already claimed the life of 10 children and has urged legislators to pass a law requiring all students entering 7th to 12th grade have a booster shot against the potentially killer disease.

    AB354 passed recently and makes it mandatory for all students entering 7th to 12th grade in a California school (public or private) to have been immunized against whooping cough before they begin the school year in the fall 2011.

    In 2012 this will change to all students entering the 7th grade.

    This means that starting in July of this year, parents must present proof of immunization called TDAP booster, a shot containing immunization against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.

    Whooping cough, also known as “Pertussis” is a highly contagious bacterial disease where symptoms are initially mild, and then develop into severe coughing fits that impair breathing and is especially dangerous for babies and small children.

    Symptoms are similar to those of the common cold; runny nose, sneezing, fever, symptoms are even milder in babies. But after two weeks, symptoms change into severe coughing and can even provoke vomit.

    Even if a child has been inmunized, protection against Pertussis wears off, so teenagers are especially at risk against this illness if they don’t receive a booster shot.

    The outbreak in California had 7,800 cases of Pertussis and is believed to have caused the death of 10 children; it is considered by far the worst outbreak in the last 50 years.

    “Pretecting the Health of young Californians is one of our priorities” said the head of California Public Health, Mark Horton, “this new legislation will allow us to do this more effectively.”

    Public Health officials are urging parents not to wait until the start of the school year to immunize their children, because this new law will not have a grace period and if they don’t get vaccinated, children will not be admitted into school.

    To get the booster shot, parents can take their kids to any doctor, clinic or hospital. If they don’t have insurance or their insurance doesn’t cover vaccines, they can call 1877-243-8832 or visit ShotsForSchool.org

    Besides the TDAP booster, teens should get other vaccinations that despite not being mandatory might help keep them in top shape: meningitis shot, the chickenpox booster (in case of not having had the illness) and Human Papiloma Virus series, as well as the seasonal flu shoot.

Border kids

    In California, border schools are often filled with children living their lives between the two countries, either with double citizenship or having lived in Mexico for a while, where they have a different vaccination regime.

    The constant movement of families makes it common for children to live periods of their lives outside the US and come back into the country to attend high school. But having a different vaccination regime or having vaccines given by a Mexican doctor should not be an obstacle when getting into school in the US.

    Edmundo Aguilar, spokesman for the Baja California State Health System, and Norma Arceo, spokesperson for the California Department of Health agree it is common for Health information to be shared across the border; therefore vaccination proof given in Mexico is valid for any paperwork in the US, including school.

    In Mexico, Pertussis immunization is scheduled at 2, 4, and 6 months, and booster shots at 2, 4, and 6 years of age. In California, Pertussis immunization is given at 2, 4, 6, 15 to 18 months, as well as 4 and 6 years of age.

    “Vaccinations are similar and have many equivalent vaccinations” Aguilar said, “therefore school authorities should not ask a teen to be vaccinated again if it has been done in Mexico and they received their booster shots as scheduled.”

In San Diego

    “In an effort to combat the ongoing pertussis epidemic that has sickened hundreds of children and adults in the region, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency will be offering the whooping cough booster shot, or Tdap, at local Northgate Markets on weekends in January.

    The booster shot will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following Northgate locations:

    – 2909 Coronado Avenue, San Diego, 92154

    – 1410 S.43rd St., San Diego, 92113

    – 1058 3rd Ave., Chula Vista, 91911

    – 606 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, 92025

    – 1150 E. Vista Way, Vista, 92084

    – 1346 S. Mission Rd., Fallbrook, 92028

            For more information about whooping cough, please call the HHSA Immunization Branch at (866) 358-2966, or visit the website at www.sdiz.org.”