Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health
Immunization Program
3530 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: (213) 351-7800
Fax: (213) 351-2780
Email: ip@ph.lacounty.gov
Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Unit
Phone: (213) 351-7400
Fax: (213) 351-2781
Email: ip@ph.lacounty.gov
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NO SHOT, NO SCHOOL: Pertussis Vaccinations (Tdap) Now Required for School Entry for All 7th - 12th Graders
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A new California school immunization requirement that
took effect July 1, 2011 requires all 7th – 12th grade students in public and private schools to show proof that they have received a pertussis
vaccine, which is called Tdap, to attend school.
The Tdap vacicne is routinely recommended at 11 or 12
years of age and is a different vaccine than the vaccine
called DTaP that most adolescents received as infants and
young children. Requiring a Tdap vaccine for school
entry will protect California’s adolescents and their families from pertussis and provide a chance for adolescents to get caught up with all recommended vaccinations.
Visit www.shotsforschool.org/
for details about the requirement; implementation guidelines; and tools including FAQs, article templates, and forms.
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For the 2011-2012 school year, all students entering into 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades
are required to show proof that they received a pertussis
vaccination (Tdap) to attend school. For the next school year (2012-13) and future school years, only students entering into 7th grade will need proof of a Tdap shot to
attend school.
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To meet the requirement, adolescents must have received a Tdap shot on or after their 7th
birthday.* This shot protects them from pertussis, which is commonly called whooping cough, and two other serious diseases, diphtheria and tetanus.
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If students have proof that they already received a Tdap vaccination (on or after their 7th birthday), they do not need another Tdap vaccine to attend school.
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Some students may be exempted from this requirement if there is a valid medical reason why they cannot be vaccinated or if their parent chooses to exempt them due to their personal beliefs. However, this leaves the adolescent at risk for catching and spreading
pertussis.
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To meet the requirement, the immunization record must show that the adolescent received a dose of Tdap vaccine. Because Td vaccine does not prevent pertussis, a record that reads “Td” or “Td/Tdap” will not meet the pertussis
vaccination school requirement.
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Tdap vaccines are required for school entry for all 7th-12th graders, even if they have had pertussis. This is because a person who has had pertussis can get the disease again.
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This new law is in effect. **Unvaccinted
adolescents should get their pertussis vaccination (Tdap)
now to protect them during the current statewide-epidemic,
prevent long waits/delays to get vaccinated, and helps
them stay healthy and in the classroom. Vaccinated
students should provide proof of the Tdap dose, as
requested by their school. Remember, by law, 7th -
12th graders who have not received a pertussis vaccination
(Tdap) by the school's deadline will be excluded.
*A DTaP or DTP vaccination given on or after the seventh birthday will also meet the requirement.
** Schools have the option of allowing students to conditionally attend classes for up to 30 calendar days after their first day of the 2011-2012 school year before they will be required to show proof that they met the Tdap vaccination school requirement.
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| PARENTS |
PROVIDERS |
SCHOOLS |
- If your child will enter the 7th -12th grade in the 2011-2012 school year,
you need to provide proof to the school that your child received the pertussis vaccine
(Tdap).
- If you have proof that your child received a
Tdap vaccine (on or after the 7th birthday), an additional Tdap vaccine is not needed. Provide proof of the dose to the school as requested.
- If your child does not have proof of a Tdap vaccine, he/she needs to receive a dose.
Make an appointment for him/her to be vaccinated by his/her regular health care provider
today.
- If your child does not have a regular
health care provider or insurance coverage
for vaccinations, visit
www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/
ip/IZclinics/clinics.htm or dial 2-1-1
(the Los Angeles County Information Line)
for a list of no cost and low cost
providers.
- Use the pertussis
vaccination (Tdap) shot visit as a chance to get your child caught up with any other vaccinations that are recommended.
- Keep your child’s immunization record in a safe place. You’ll need to show it to your child’s school to prove that your child received a pertussis booster vaccination
(Tdap) shot to meet the new school requirement.
Resources
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- Take advantage of the mandate to discuss other vaccinations and preventive health issues with your adolescent patients.
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Vaccinate now to protect patients during the current statewide epidemic and prevent your
patients from being excluded from school. -
Provide all adolescent vaccinations that are due, not just Tdap vaccine. -
Order sufficient supplies of Tdap and other vaccines now to meet expected demand. -
Ensure appropriate storage for doses ordered.
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Recall patients who are due for a Tdap shot. -
Td does not prevent pertussis so does not meet the school requirement. If an adolescent received a Td dose, there is no minimal interval required.
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CAIR users can generate a list of patients who do not meet the pertussis vaccination school requirement (Main Menu< Reports< Click on Tdap Reports).
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Document all doses given as “Tdap”- not “Td” or “Td/Tdap” on the IZ record.
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Help parents make an informed decision to vaccinate. Share vaccine benefits and openly address parents’ questions and concerns.
Resources
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Educate students and parents about the importance of getting vaccinated now to prevent disease, school closures, and exclusions. Promote awareness through enrollment packets, letters, newsletters, your website, and autodialer calls.
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Schools must exclude any 7th – 12th grade student who does not
present proof of a pertussis vaccination (Tdap) on or after the 7th birthday or a documented exemption. -
Schools have the option of allowing students to conditionally attend classes for up to 30 calendar days after their first day of the 2011-2012 school year before meeting the Tdap vaccination requirement. However, school staff are encouraged to continue to work with parents now to confirm compliance. -
Only records that indicate “Tdap”, not “Td” or “Td/Tdap” meet the requirement.*
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Please use the stickers
provided by Public Health to record Tdap vaccination status on the Blue Card.
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Inform parents that an exemption leaves their child at risk for
pertussis. Please don’t allow exemptions out of convenience.
If a parent requests an exemption, provide an original Personal Belief Exemption Form for signature.
Resources
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Mission Statement: To improve immunization coverage levels & prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vision: Healthy children and adults, free of vaccine-preventable diseases.
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Flu surveillance and related disease updates for LA County
