Culver City High Plans for Pertussis Vaccination Verification

Although some California students will have a 30-day extension to get immunized with all pertussis boosters per a new state law, at Culver City High School, Principal Dylan Farris has a plan in place to get kids immunized by the August registration deadline. School begins in Culver City on Sept. 6.

"We already have a plan in place at the high school to get all students vaccinated prior to the beginning of school," said Farris, who added that as of Thursday approximately 25 percent of high school students expected to enroll still need to submit proof of the vaccination.

For those who have not gotten their vaccination before registration at the end of August, the high school will have the pertussis—also known as whooping cough—vaccine available from Aug. 22-24 in the Health Center. Farris said the middle school probably has a similar plan in place, but he didn't know the specifics.

Calls and emails to Culver City Middle School Principal Jon Pearson were not returned. 

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

Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation last week to give educational agencies 30 extra days after classes start to begin verifying the vaccinations. If a student has not received the booster shot by then, he or she will be sent home. The governor’s signature follows the state Legislature’s approval of Senate Bill 614 this month.

A recent outbreak 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.

Whooping cough 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, unless they have an exemption.

If parents sign a statement that the procedure is against their beliefs, their children will be exempted, per state education code.

Children are also exempt if their parents submit a statement from a doctor that states that the vaccination would not be considered safe for them, 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.