Schools Struggling To Comply With Whooping Cough Vaccine Statute

More than one million California students entering grades seven through 12 this fall have not received a vaccine for whooping cough, or pertussis, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Last September, lawmakers approved a measure requiring the inoculation in response to a spike in whooping cough cases. About 9,000 cases of whooping cough were reported in California last year, the highest since 1947.

Under the law, students in public and private schools will be barred from class until they submit paperwork that they received the pertussis booster shot. Parents can opt out of the requirement for medical or personal reasons.

Earlier this month, the Legislature approved a bill (SB 614) to extend the compliance deadline by an additional 30 days. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has not yet signed the bill. He has until Tuesday to approve or veto the bill, or the extension automatically goes into effect.

It remains unclear how many students have received the shot but have not submitted proof.

Meanwhile, public health officials have acknowledged that enforcing the new requirement this first year will be difficult (Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle, 7/23).