Whooping cough worry leads to vaccinations

By Mike Lyle

Friday, May 2, 2008 | 1:40 p.m.

In fear of the spread of whooping cough, the Nevada State board of Health is requiring all seventh-grade students to be vaccinated.

Starting June 30, 2008, all students that are entering seventh grade must receive a mandatory vaccination before the start of the school year.

The precaution is to prevent the spread of the contagious virus known as pertussis or whooping cough, which has the symptom of a persistent and severe cough.

All Nevada public and private schools are expected to adhere to the mandates. The vaccination is available at most pediatrician and family physician offices.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shots to prevent the disease protects children for five to 10 years. If a shot was administered in earlier childhood years, it could leave preteens and teens vulnerable to contraction. Under the recommendation of the CDC, children should receive a booster shot in order to further protection, keeping children healthy.

In a 2006 National Immunization Survey, about 11 percent of teenagers in the United States, from ages 13 to 17 years old, had been vaccinated.

The state-wide regulation increases low vaccination rates as well as prevents the development of serious disease and costly treatments.