Students Have More Time to Get Pertussis Vaccination

Students required to get immunized with all pertussis boosters will now have a 30-day extension to receive them after Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation last week to give educational agencies 30 extra days after classes start to begin verifying the vaccinations.

The governor’s signature follows the state Legislature’s approval of Senate Bill 614 earlier this month.

A law signed last year requires that students going into grades 7-12 this school year get immunized with all pertussis boosters before the start of school.

Pertussis is commonly known as whooping cough and is spread by coughing or sneezing. It causes a severe, long-lasting cough in adolescents and adults. Complications are rare in this age group, but are more common in infants who become infected before they are vaccinated. 

The boosters include the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap). The requirement extends to all public and private school students, except those with an exemption.

The recent epidemic of whooping cough, which is highly contagious, has killed 10 babies and infected more than 11,000 people since last year, according to the California Department of Education.

State education code does include exemptions from immunization requirements if parents sign a statement that the procedure is against their beliefs.

Children are also exempt if their parents submit a statement from a doctor that states that the vaccination would not be considered safe for the child, according to the California Department of Education.

An exemption may be temporary or permanent. It also can be designated for specific vaccines or all vaccines.