Incoming seventh-graders will have to get newly required vaccine
June 16th, 2009 by TCPalm.comBefore incoming seventh-graders step into their first classes this fall, they must brave the sting of a newly required vaccine against whooping cough and two other diseases.
Local health departments are offering the Tdap vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (whooping cough) this summer at health clinics or at residents’ request so students can be prepared for the start of school.
The new state requirement for students to take the vaccine before entering the seventh grade stems from concerns that adolescents and adults immunized against whooping cough in infancy are contracting the disease when they’re older. Before this year, the vaccine for adolescents, licensed in 2005, was suggested but not required. Counties have offered the vaccine every year.
Infants get booster shots for all the diseases covered by Tdap. The new requirement will ensure children will stay immune as they age.
Darlene Gordon, interim nursing supervisor for the Indian River County Health Department, said whooping cough can be fatal for infants but not for adults or adolescents, generally.
“It’s not fatal, but it’s a cold that won’t go away,” Gordon said.
Diphtheria, relatively rare in the United States, is a bacterial infection affecting the nose and throat. It is most dangerous for children and people living in cramped conditions. Tetanus also is rare in the U.S., but it can be serious.
Indian River County will offer the Tdap shot at three general immunization clinics before school begins.
The Martin County Health Department held free immunization clinics for the Tdap shots in May and mid-June. The St. Lucie County Health Department may offer the immunizations at free clinics yet to be scheduled.
The shots can also be scheduled with private practitioners or through any of the health departments.
Gordon said that children cannot receive the vaccination within two years of receiving a tuberculosis vaccine. Those who have been given the TB vaccine will be given a blue card that allows them to enroll in school until they are again eligible for the Tdap.
In many cases, the Tdap shots are free, thanks to the state Vaccines for Children, a program for those who meet income eligibility requirements and do not qualify for Medicaid.
Immunization opportunities
Indian River
Where: Indian River County Health Department, 1900 27th St., Vero Beach
When: Aug. 19-21, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Gifford Health Clinic , 4675 28th Court, Gifford
When: Aug. 20, 8 a.m.-11 a.m., 1 a.m.-4 p.m.
Martin County
Clinics already held.
Contact the Martin County Health Department, 3441 S.E. Willoughby Blvd., Stuart, (772) 221-4000 to receive the vaccine.
St. Lucie County
Contact the St. Lucie County Health Department for an appointment to receive the vaccine.
Port St. Lucie site: St. Lucie County Health Dept., 5150 N.W. Milner Drive, Port St. Lucie.
Fort Pierce Site: 714 Avenue C, Fort Pierce.
By Alex Tiegen
Tags: beach, children, cold, contract, court, driving, fall, fatal, fatality, Health, infant, nurse, nursing, Schools, shot, Stuart, students
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June 16th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Why must our children be subjected to a vaccine for three diseases when only one of the diseases, whooping cough, is the problem? How come the health department (or even the reporter for that matter) doesn’t mention that there are simple and inexpensive titers tests available to test the levels of your childs antibodies, which if high enough would negate subjecting your child’s immune system to another and very unnecessary assault? Why? Shame on em!