State to Require New Vaccinations for 6th-12th Graders: What Do You Think?
Do you think the state of Illinois should require students to receive the Tdap whooping cough booster shot in order to remain in school?
The Illinois State Board of Health has approved new recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health and The Illinois Department of Education to require all students in sixth grade through senior year of high school to have an additional vaccination. The students will now need to show proof of receiving the Tdap booster shot. The vaccine immunizes against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. “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 Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck in a press release…
Robert Vanderweit
11:06 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
The new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the vaccine offered 58 percent protection against the most common and dangerous H3N2 strain for children ages 6 months to 17 years old, 46 percent protection for adults ages 18 to 49, and 50 percent protection for adults 60 to 64 years of age. However, for seniors 65 and older, this year's flu shot was found to be only 9 … more ›