Whooping cough cases increasing in Illinois
Back-to-school reminder: New
immunization requirement
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[August 08, 2012]
SPRINGFIELD
-- Health care providers are reporting a large increase in
the number of pertussis cases, commonly called whooping cough, in
Illinois and across the country. To kick off National Immunization
Awareness Month this August, the Illinois Department of Public
Health is reminding parents and health care providers of the new
pertussis immunization requirement for the 2012-2013 school year.
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All sixth- and ninth-grade students are now required to show proof
of receiving Tdap vaccine, an immunization against tetanus,
diphtheria and pertussis. Students must either show proof of having
received this vaccination, must have an appointment to get the
vaccine, or have an approved medical or religious exemption on file.
Students who do not, will not be allowed to attend school. "This
new requirement for sixth- and ninth- graders comes at a time when
we are seeing a substantial increase in whooping cough cases," said
Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, IDPH director. "Medical experts have found
whooping cough has been on the rise in pre-teens and teens,
indicating a waning immunity from infant and childhood
immunizations. To combat this, Illinois now requires all incoming
sixth- and ninth-grade students to receive a Tdap booster shot."
A gradual and sustained increase in pertussis has been observed
in the United States after reaching historic lows in the 1970s.
Nationally, year-to-date case counts from 2012 have surpassed those
from the previous five years for the same period. In 2011, health
care providers reported 1,509 pertussis cases to IDPH for the entire
year. With five months still to go in the year, providers have
already reported approximately 1,200 cases of pertussis.
Examples of recent outbreak activity in the U.S. include the
declaration of a pertussis epidemic in Washington -- reporting 3,180
cases through July 21, compared with a total of 965 cases in 2011;
Wisconsin reported 3,169 cases as of July 16, compared with 1,192
cases in 2011; and Minnesota is experiencing high rates of pertussis
-- reporting 1,758 cases as of June 30, compared with 661 reported
in 2011.
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Vaccination continues to be the single most effective strategy to
reduce illness, and even death, caused by pertussis and other
vaccine-preventable diseases.
During National Immunization Awareness Month, check with your
health care provider about your vaccinations, and those of your
child, to make sure you are up-to-date on immunizations.
Parents or health care providers wanting to inform other parents
or health care providers of the new Tdap school requirement can find
ready-to-print posters as well as other immunization information at
www.idph.state.il.us/about/
shots.htm#back_to_school.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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