Vaccinations Can Ensure Better Health During the School Year

REDLANDS, Calif. – Under the California School Immunization Law, children are required to receive immunizations in order to attend public or private elementary and secondary schools as well as with child care centers and nursery schools. Redlands Community Hospital is reminding parents to update their child’s required shots to ensure their children are vaccinated before their school year begins.

“Vaccinations can help ensure the safety of children from highly contagious and in some cases deadly diseases such as whooping cough,” says Dr. Cameo Carter, a pediatrician at Redlands Community Hospital. “The CDC strongly advises parents to have their children vaccinated in order to ensure their health as well as that of other students.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 41,000 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) were reported during 2012. Eighteen deaths were reported with the majority of deaths occurring in children younger than three months of age. California has seen a spike of whooping cough cases with a more than 9,000 cases reported in 2010. Beginning last year, all incoming seventh, eighth, and twelfth graders for were required to get a Tdap booster vaccination for whooping cough immunization before enrolling in school.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease that can affect adults as well as children and infants. Deaths caused by the whooping cough disease are most common among infants.

“Symptoms for whooping cough include cold-like symptoms and maybe a mild cough or fever,” explains Dr. Erika McClure, a pediatrician at The Garden Pediatric Group. “After the first weeks, a severe cough may begin. In infants, coughs can be minimal although ‘apnea’ or sudden pauses in the infant’s breathing patterns may occur.”

Dr. Carter says now is the time to update your child’s immunization schedule and be proactive about preventing diseases.

Redlands Family Clinic provides vaccinations and immunizations for children as well as adults. For further information, visit www.redlandshospital.org.

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Redlands Community Hospital is an independent, not for profit, stand-alone hospital.