Whooping Cough Vaccine Now Required for Illinois 6th and 9th Grade Students http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Illinois/183074311826010
Summary: Illinois students entering sixth and ninth grade this year must comply with a new state law that requires students to get the Tdap vaccine, a booster shot against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, by October 15, 2012. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Illinois/183074311826010
(August 15, 2012) – This year the state of Illinois is requiring all children entering grades 6 or 9 to get a booster vaccination for whooping cough by an October 15 deadline. Schools started notifying parents of the new requirement during last school year, and state officials anticipate that adequate supplies of the vaccine are on hand to meet the demand.
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The new vaccination requirement comes as Illinois is experiencing a significant increase in the number of whooping cough cases. 2011 saw a marked rise across the state, with more than 1,500 incidents reported. However, the Illinois Department Public Health expects to easily exceed that total this year. Over 1,200 cases have already been reported during 2012, and health officials warn that the worst is yet to some since cases typically increase late in the year after children return to school. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Illinois/183074311826010
The outbreak in Illinois is part of a broader resurgence of pertussis across the nation, which is predicted to cause the highest number of cases in the US since 1959. Whooping cough may initially be mistaken for a mild cold since it starts with a runny or stuffed-up nose, sneezing and a mild cough, and, in infants, a pause in breathing, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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However, after one or two weeks, the coughing can become severe which makes it hard for children and babies to breathe. These coughing fits can go on for 10 weeks and may be fatal, especially for infants and young children. For the 5 year period 2004 - 2009, the CDC reported 121 whooping cough deaths in the United States — the majority of them babies.
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Because the disease can be so dangerous, vaccinations are required. In Illinois, children typically get five doses by kindergarten, and the Illinois Department of Public Health recommends the Tdap (for tetanus, diptheria and pertussis) booster shots for those 10 and older.
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The rate of compliance with vaccination requirements statewide is 97 percent, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. However, an independent review by the Chicago Tribune last year found about 200 Illinois schools where the compliance rate was below 90 percent. Data about specific school vaccination compliance rates and other immunization information is available at the Illinois State Board of Education website, http://isbe.state.il.us/. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Illinois/183074311826010
In addition to the state government site, a number of other websites are helping spread awareness of the rising rates whooping cough in the US and abroad. Among these is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-fromIllinois/183074311826010 a Facebook fanpage that offers an online community where people can share their thoughts and comments about the latest Illinois news and events, including the changes in the school vaccination requirements.
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"We feel it is very important to get the news out about the importance of vaccinations to prevent the spread of this preventable disease in Illinois," notes page administrator S.S. Ober-Lehn. "And Facebook's international appeal makes the Proud to be from Illinois fanpage a natural place for anyone anywhere in the world who is concerned about the this emerging heath issue to come together to discuss this problem and help raise awareness about it."
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To find out more about current news and events in Illinois, please visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-fromIllinois/183074311826010 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-Illinois/183074311826010