L.A. COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH - Immunization Program

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Immunization Program

Contact Information

Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health
Immunization Program
3530 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: (213) 351-7800
Fax: (213) 351-2780
Email: ip@ph.lacounty.gov

Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Unit
Phone: (213) 351-7400
Fax: (213) 351-2781
Email: ip@ph.lacounty.gov

NO SHOT, NO SCHOOL: Pertussis Vaccinations (Tdap) Now Required for School Entry for All 7th Graders

By law, to attend school, all students entering the 7th grade in public and private schools must show proof that they have received a pertussis vaccine called Tdap. The Tdap vaccine protects them from three diseases: pertussis (also called whooping cough), diphtheria, and tetanus. Most adolescents received a different vaccine called DTaP as infants and young children to help protect them from the same diseases, but need to get a dose of Tdap vaccine now to boost their protection. The Tdap vaccine is recommended for children at 11 or 12 years of age and for teens who have not yet received a dose.

Students will need to show proof of vaccination before they start school. Though not required for school entry, adolescents should also receive meningococcal, human papillomavirus (HPV), and influenza vaccines.

Visit www.shotsforschool.org/ for details about the requirement; implementation guidelines; and tools including FAQs, article templates, and forms.

FAST FACTS

All students entering into 7th grade are required to show proof that they received a pertussis vaccination (Tdap) to attend school. Students who do not meet this requirement and do not have a valid exemption will not be allowed to attend school.
Unvaccinated adolescents should get their pertussis vaccination (Tdap) now, along with any other vaccinations that they are due to receive, to help them meet the school requirement and stay healthy and in the classroom. Vaccinated students should provide proof that they received a Tdap dose, as requested by their school.
- Because Td vaccine does not prevent pertussis, a record that reads “Td” or “Td/Tdap” will not meet the pertussis vaccination school requirement.
To meet the requirement, adolescents must have received a Tdap shot on or after their 7th birthday.* This shot protects them from pertussis, which is commonly called whooping cough, and two other serious diseases, diphtheria and tetanus.
If students have proof that they already received a Tdap vaccination (on or after their 7th birthday), they do not need another Tdap vaccine to attend school.
Tdap vaccines are required for school entry for all 7th graders, even if they have had pertussis. This is because a person who has had pertussis can get the disease again.
Some students may be exempted from this requirement if there is a valid medical reason for not being vaccinated or if their parent chooses to exempt them due to their personal beliefs. However, this leaves the adolescent at risk for catching and spreading pertussis.

*A DTaP or DTP vaccination given on or after the seventh birthday will also meet the requirement.

TIPS AND TOOLS

PARENTS

PROVIDERS

SCHOOLS

If your child will enter the 7th grade in the upcoming school year, you need to provide proof to the school that your child received the pertussis vaccine (Tdap).
If you have proof that your child received a Tdap vaccine (on or after the 7th birthday), an additional Tdap vaccine is not needed. Provide proof of the Tdap dose to the school as requested.
If your child does not have proof of a Tdap vaccine, he/she needs to receive a dose. Make an appointment with his his/her regular health care provider today to have him/her receive Tdap and other vaccinations recommended for adolescents.
If your child does not have a regular health care provider or insurance coverage for vaccinations click here or dial 2-1-1 (the Los Angeles County Information Line) for a list of no cost and low cost providers.
Use the pertussis vaccination (Tdap) shot visit as a chance to get your child caught up with any other vaccinations that are recommended.
Keep your child’s immunization record in a safe place. You’ll need to show it to your child’s school to prove that your child received a pertussis vaccination (Tdap) to meet the school requirement.

Resources

Please continue to vaccinate all 11-12 year old patients with Tdap and other recommended adolescent vaccinations.
- Provide all adolescent vaccinations that are due, not just Tdap vaccine.
- Order sufficient supplies of Tdap and other vaccines now to meet expected demand.
- Ensure appropriate storage for doses ordered.
Recall patients who are due for a Tdap shot.
- Td does not prevent pertussis so does not meet the school requirement. If an adolescent received a Td dose, please provide a Tdap dose now. There is no minimal interval required between Td and Tdap.
- CAIR users can generate a list of patients who do not meet the pertussis vaccination school requirement (Main Menu< Reports< Click on Tdap Reports).
Document all doses given as “Tdap”- not “Td” or “Td/Tdap” on the IZ record.
Help parents make an informed decision to vaccinate. Share vaccine benefits and openly address parents’ questions and concerns.

Resources

Adolescent Immunization Schedule
Revised ACIP Pertussis Vaccination Recommendations
California Immunization Registry (CAIR)
Educational materials, including FAQs and phone messages scripts: www.shotsforschool.org and www.publichealth.
lacounty.gov/ip
Contact the Immunization Program Customer Service Unit at (323) 869-8080

In preparation for the upcoming school year, please continue to educate students and parents about the school requirement, Tdap, and other recommended vaccinations. Promote awareness through your website, marquee, letters, newsletters/bulletins, parent presentations, autodialer calls, and flyers sent home with report cards or enrollment packets.
Plan for how to manage exclusions for students who have not presented proof of Tdap vaccination (on or after the 7th birthday) or a valid exemption by the start of the school year.
- Plan to have all students in compliance before the first day of school. The grace period that allowed students to conditionally attend classes for up to 30 calendar days is not approved for the upcoming school year.
Please use the stickers provided by Public Health to record Tdap vaccination status on the Blue Card.
- Only records that indicate “Tdap”, not “Td” or “Td/Tdap” meet the requirement.*
Please don’t allow exemptions out of convenience. Inform parents that an exemption leaves their child at risk for pertussis.

Provide parents who request an exemption with an original Personal Beliefs Exemption Form for signature and consider giving them a letter to be used to revoke the PBE later. Click here to download a customizable letter.

If your school has extra stickers or PBE forms that are not needed for the upcoming school year, please redistribute to schools in your area.

Resources

“Frequently Asked Questions for Schools”
Pertussis Vaccination (Tdap) Toolkit for Schools
Contact the Immunization Program School Services Unit at (213) 351-7800

About Us

Mission Statement: To improve immunization coverage levels & prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vision: Healthy children and adults, free of vaccine-preventable diseases.