A new California law requires students entering grades 7-12 to provide proof of proper immunization against pertussis, also known as whooping cough, before starting school this fall.
Just half of Laguna Beach students have turned in the required forms, said Irene White, the district’s director of special education-student services. “Our parents are always very responsive so we trust that in the next few days our families will be submitting the required documentation.”
Pertussis is a highly contagious upper respiratory disease.
This legislation, passed in the wake of California’s recent whooping cough epidemic, applies to all public and private schools.
The Vaccines for Children Program provides free or low-cost vaccines if a child does not have health insurance, or is only partially insured. More information about this program is available through a physician or the local health department.
For more information, please visit www.ShotsforSchool.org or www.ochealthinfo.com.
Information on how to submit student vaccination verification is available at LBUSD’s website www.lbusd.org
