Illinois students now required to get whooping cough vaccine | Families

ILLINOIS (KFVS) - A rise in whooping cough caused new vaccine requirements for Illinois sixth and ninth graders.

Illinois sixth and ninth grade students will now be required to have the Tdap vaccine before entering school for the 2012-2013 year.

The Tdap vaccine immunizes against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. Students will be required to show proof of receiving the vaccine, have an appointment scheduled to get it, or an approved medical or religious exemption on file. Students who do not meet this requirement will not be allowed to attend school.

Whooping cough has been on the rise this year in Illinois and across the country. Medical experts have found that the disease is particularly on the rise among pre-teen and teens. Combatting this is the reason for the new requirements.

Nationally, year-to-case counts from 2012 have been greater than those from the previous five years. In 2011, health care providers reported 1,509 cases of whooping cough to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for the entire year.  Already 1,200 cases have been reported in 2012.

Vaccination is the single most effective way to reduce illness and even death from vaccine preventable diseases. Parents or health care providers wanting to inform others of the new Tdap school requirement can find ready-to-print posters on our website, as well as further information at www.idph.state.il.us/about/shots.htm#back_to_school.

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