Tdap Boosters Required for 2012-13 School Year

Due to recent whooping cough outbreaks throughout Illinois and neighboring states, beginning with the next school year, a Tdap vaccine will be required for sixth- through 12th-grade students.

Tdap is a booster dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccines.

Pertussis, which is more commonly known as whooping cough, is an illness caused by an infection that lasts about six weeks. At first, symptoms are flu-like with mild coughing and possibly a fever. After a week, the mild cough becomes powerful coughing fits. The coughing is frequent and so intense that dangerous complications such as vomiting, broken ribs, and broken blood vessels in the eye may occur. The coughing is followed by a deep inward breath that causes the distinct “whoop” sound.

While most students have previously received these vaccines, the protection they provide decreases over time. Consequently, a booster dose of Tdap is needed to decrease the risk of becoming ill with pertussis.

To comply with the new state law and to keep your child safe, please arrange for your fifth-, sixth-, seventh-, and/or eighth-grade students to receive this vaccine prior to the beginning of the 2012-13 school year.

-Story Submitted by Community Consolidated School District 15