A new vaccination requirement for all Ohio students entering seventh grade in the fall of 2010 is intended to protect Ohio’s residents from Pertussis disease by decreasing the spread of disease.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious communicable disease that poses a number of risks to our community. The disease is spread person to person through close personal contact with an infected person.
In Clark County, Pertussis has been an ongoing concern, particularly during the recent years. The number of persons reported with Pertussis disease in Clark County has been significant with 21 cases reported in 2009 and 49 cases reported in 2008.
The disease is vaccine preventable, and the best way to prevent Pertussis is to get vaccinated. Since 2005, the vaccine called Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), has been available for adolescents and adults. A dose of Tdap or Td is now required for all students entering the 7th grade this school year 2010-11. Adults should also receive one Tdap vaccine sometime between the ages of 19 through 64 years of age.
“Older siblings and adults, most often a parent, are the common cause of disease spread to infants who are too young to be fully protected through immunization,” states Carolyn Gillam, Infectious Disease Nurse at the Clark County Health District. “Vaccinating school aged children who gather together on a daily basis is one way to decrease the spread of disease in the community overall, thereby protecting those persons at highest risk in our homes.”
Infants less than one year old are at highest risk for severe illness and complications that range from being unable to get their breath to pneumonia, seizures, brain injury and even death. Fifty percent of infants contracting Pertussis will require hospitalization due to the severity of their illness. Due to the seriousness of disease in very young children, another specific group highly recommended to get the vaccine is all parents/caregivers and household contacts of infants/children.
The Health District encourages residents to help protect themselves and their loved ones by contacting a physician or healthcare provider to check for the availability of the Tdap vaccine.
The Tdap vaccine is also available through the Health District, along with additional vaccines that are highly recommended for adolescents. Immunization Coordinator, Gayle Harris states, “Important vaccines which should also be considered for adolescents may include protection from diseases such as Meningococcal disease, Hepatitis A, Human Papilloma Virus, and Varicella or chickenpox disease.”
The Clark County Combined Health District welcomes an opportunity to answer questions regarding vaccine preventable diseases. Staff can be reached at (937) 390-5600.
