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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.

(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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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/.


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-from-
Illinois/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.


"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."


To find out more about current news and events
in Illinois, please visit

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proud-to-be-from-
Illinois/183074311826010

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