Whooping Cough Outbreak Coincides with Changes to Immunization Requirement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2011
Contact
Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health
(217) 531-4297 /
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Whooping Cough Outbreak Coincides with Changes to Immunization Requirement
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Expands Tdap Vaccine Offerings
Champaign, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has recently adopted changes for immunization requirements. IDPH has amended its policy to comply with recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to provide additional protection to infants against pertussis. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Any child entering the sixth grade will need to show proof of receiving one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccine regardless of the interval since the last DTaP, DT or Td dose. Students entering grades seven through 12 who have not already received the Tdap vaccination are required to receive one dose regardless of the interval since the last DTaP, DT or Td dose. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has determined that the new requirements will be enforced starting school year 2012-2013. IDPH is in agreement with this timeframe.
According to the IDPH, 1,149 cases of pertussis have been reported in Illinois in 2011, with the majority in Cook County and surrounding areas. CUPHD will be offering Tdap to all Medicaid, uninsured and underinsured children ages 10 to 18 through the Federal VFC (Vaccines for Children) program and to Health Alliance-insured clients from ages 10 to 64. This will help protect adolescent siblings and caregivers of infants as well as meet the 2012-2013 school year requirements.
Pertussis is a highly infectious illness that is easily transmitted through coughing and sneezing and may persist among a population for weeks to months. Symptoms of pertussis usually occur five to 10 days after exposure, but can take up to 21 days to appear. Initially symptoms are similar to a common cold: a runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild occasional cough. The cough can become severe and spasmodic - with a distinctive “whooping” sound - and can progress to vomiting between bouts of coughing.
Patients with pertussis must be isolated from daycare, school, work and public gatherings for at least five days after the start of appropriate antibiotic therapy to limit further transmission. Although most people recover completely from pertussis, complications from the disease can be severe in high-risk groups, especially infants under one year, and children who have not been fully immunized against the disease.
Appointments are available Monday through Friday and can be scheduled by calling (217) 531-4317 or (217) 531-4319. Please call to inquire about fees; they will be determined based on insurance benefits.
For more information, visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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