Nurse Reminders...

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The Tdap immunization, commonly called the Tetanus and Whooping Cough vaccine, is a requirement for all students entering 7th, 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th grades for next school year (2016-2017). Pertussis immunity wears off over time, so students in the targeted grade levels are required to have the vaccine to prevent the spread of Pertussis/ Whooping Cough.

Pertussis/ Whooping Cough is highly contagious and is spread via droplets from a simple cough. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age. (http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/index.html)

The best way to protect against pertussis is immunization. By state law, students must show proof of receiving the Tetanus shot/ Tdap vaccine at the start of their 7^th grade school year or they will be subject to suspension. The deadline for compliance for next school year is Wednesday August 17, 2016.

Richland School District Two is partnering with DHEC to provide Tdap immunizations in the middle schools for current 6^th graders so they can meet the 7^th grade requirement. Consent forms are going home Monday March 14, 2016 and are due back to the school nurse as soon as possible. Please contact your school nurse for questions or concerns.

Here are the schools and the dates of their Tdap vaccination clinics for the web:

Dent Middle	04-11-16	Longleaf Middle	05-10-16
Blythewood Middle	04-12-16	EL Wright Middle	05-13-16
Muller Middle	04-20-16	Kelly Mill Middle	05-24-16
Summit Middle	04-21-16