Saturday, August 06, 2011

DOZENS LINE UP FOR WHOOPING COUGH VACCINATIONS IN THE VALLEY

Ashley Bailey/KPCC | http://bit.ly/ozIdjS

St. Patrick's Catholic School in North Hollywood offered free whooping cough booster shots to the community.-Ashley Bailey | KPCC

Aug. 4, 2011 | A new state law requires that middle and high school students get whooping cough shots before the school year begins. Public health workers in the San Fernando Valley are offering free vaccinations for kids who need booster shots.

Students lined up at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in North Hollywood to get their whooping cough shots. School nurse Suzanna Wood says parents who take advantage of free vaccination clinics like this one can save a lot of time.

"The beginning of the school year, lots of students are getting physicals and things," says Wood, "so getting an appointment with their own doctors can be problematic. So please come in advance and don't join the rush at the end."

A new state law requires students entering 7th through 12th grades to show proof they’ve been immunized. The law was passed after a whooping cough outbreak killed 10 infants and sickened 9,000 people last year.

Schools across the San Fernando Valley will host free clinics every Wednesday this month. They’re open to anyone 7 years or older.

Public health workers will be at the following schools to offer whooping cough boosters in the month of August:

August 10, 2011

St. Elisabeth School

6635 Tobias Avenue, Van Nuys 91405

 

August 17, 2011

St. Jane Frances School

12950 Hamlin Street, North Hollywood 91606

 

August 24, 2011

St. Ferdinand School

1012 Coronel Street, San Fernando 91340

 

August 31, 2011

St. Didacus School

14325 Astoria Street, Sylmar 91342

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