Immunization requirement for ALL 6th-12th-grade students
Tdap
immunization expands to all junior and high school students
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[January
29, 2013]
SPRINGFIELD -- Although we're
just over halfway through the current school year, it is not too
early for parents to start making appointments to meet next year's
student immunization requirements. The Illinois State Board of
Health recently approved recommendations from the Illinois
Department of Public Health, Illinois State Board of Education and
the Immunization Advisory Committee to require all sixth- through
twelfth-grade students to receive one Tdap vaccine, an immunization
against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
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"We've seen an increase in pertussis, or whooping cough, in Illinois
during the last six years. 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," said Illinois
Department of Public Health Director LaMar Hasbrouck. "To combat the
rise, last year Illinois required sixth- and ninth-grade students to
receive the vaccine. For the 2013-2014 school year, the state is
expanding this prevention effort and requiring all sixth- through
twelfth-grade students to receive a Tdap booster shot." 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 meet one of
these three conditions by Oct. 15 will not be allowed to attend
school until they do. For sixth- and ninth-grade students who
received the Tdap vaccine last year or previously, they do not need
to receive another vaccine, but only show proof of having received
it before.
Vaccination continues to be the single most effective strategy to
reduce illness, and even death, caused by pertussis and other
vaccine-preventable diseases.
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"Immunizations are an easy and safe way to make sure our children
are healthy and ready to learn," said State Superintendent of
Education Christopher A. Koch. "Please take a moment to make sure
your children are up-to-date on required immunizations so they do
not miss very important classroom time and, importantly, protect
themselves and others from preventable illnesses."
For more information about pertussis, visit
www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbpertus.htm, or for information
on vaccines and school requirements, go to
www.idph.state.il.us/about/shots.htm
or www.isbe.net/school_health.htm.
[Text from
Illinois
Department of Public Health and
Illinois State Board of Education file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |