The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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March 13, 2011

Whooping cough increase sparks a requirement for student immunizations statewide

By Joe Malan, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — All Oklahoma students entering seventh grade during the 2011-12 school year will have to receive a Tdap vaccine, according to Oklahoma Department of Health.

The Tdap vaccine covers tetanus, diphtheria and acelluar pertussis. Pertussis also commonly is known as whooping cough.

The move comes after Oklahoma Department of Health reported an increase in cases.

“While Oklahoma has been fortunate thus far in avoiding an outbreak of whooping cough, we did see an increase in the number of cases reported in the state last year,” State Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline said in a press release.

There were 170 cases of whooping cough reported in 2010, compared to 100 cases in 2009, Cline said.

Barbara Chaney, employee health nurse at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, said there has been a resurgence in the number of whooping cough cases over the past few decades.

“(Adults) can carry pertussis in a very mild form, but it’s still very contagious,” Chaney said. “We can give it to caregivers or young children themselves, which can be life-threatening to them.”

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection, according to Mayo Clinic. In its advanced stages, whooping cough is marked by a severe, hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like a “whoop.”

Very young children especially are susceptible to the disease, Chaney said.

“It can be life-threatening. If a small child gets in under the age of 12 months, it can kill them,” she said.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Oklahoma Department of Health both noticed the trend, which is why they decided to make the move on the Tdap vaccine, Chaney said.

Chaney said everyone should get the Tdap booster, but especially people who expect to be in regular contact with very young children.

“A lot of doctors in town are really encouraging it,” she said.

For more information on the Tdap vaccine for the 2011-12 school year, go online to www.ok.gov/health.

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