Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a respiratory illness caused by a bacterial infection. At first, the symptoms are flu-like with mild coughing and may include a fever. After a week, the mild cough becomes powerful coughing fits. The coughing is frequent and so intense that dangerous complications, such as vomiting, broken ribs, broken eye vessels, may occur. The coughing is followed by a deep breath-in causing a distinct “whoop” sound. The coughing lasts about 6 weeks, which explains its other name, the “100-day cough”.

Due to recent outbreaks in Illinois, starting in the next school year, Illinois has added TDAP as a vaccine required for 6th through 12th grade students. TDAP is a booster dose of the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccines. Although most students have previously received these vaccines, the protection received from earlier vaccines decreases over time resulting in a risk for becoming ill with pertussis.

To comply with the new law and to keep your student safe, please make arrangements for your 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade student to receive this vaccine.