OTTUMWA —
Notebook paper, pens, pencils and a vaccine?
Students enrolling in the seventh grade or higher for the 2013-14 school year will have to add the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine booster shot to their list of school supplies before they enter the classroom.
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, state officials are requiring the shot for students who were born after Sept. 15, 2000.
Wapello County Public Health Clinical Director Lynelle Diers said Wednesday that her department is gearing up for distributing the vaccine to primarily seventh-grade students in Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont and Cardinal school districts.
“It’s a new mandatory requirement because pertussis — also known as whooping cough — has been so rampant in the past 10 years,” Diers said.
During the past 10 years, state health officials have determined that if they mandate it and people receive the vaccination, the incident rate of whooping cough will drop.
Diers noted the IDPH staff determined seventh grade would be the first student group to receive the shot.
“Looking at the age, the last booster for students was somewhere after age 4,” Diers said. “So, seventh grade is the right age to get another booster.”
Also, when a woman becomes pregnant now, a lot of the obstetric doctors are recommending everyone who will be around the babies, especially newborns, should get the TDaP (Tetanus Diphtheria Acelular Pertussis) shot.
“Vaccines have changed a lot,” Diers said. “When I started in public health we gave three vaccinations — one for measles, mumps, rubella and polio.
Before the clinics start, the health department will get a large amount of TDaP vaccine and more vaccinations will be available, Diers added. She’s pleased the school districts are collaborating with health officials.
“Parents should look for a letter and consent form prior to the clinics,” she said. “If parents would please sign off so the student can get a vaccination, that would be greatly appreciated.”
Diers also noted families may also go to their own doctor to receive the shot.
For more information, contact Wapello County Public Health, 108 E. Main St., 641-682-5434.
Local News
Vaccine booster shot mandated for students
- Local News
-
- Expanding Ottumwa's trail system OTTUMWA — The Market Street Bridge is a major link in connecting Ottumwa's north side to its south side. The seventh annual Wapello County Trails Council mediathon kicked off Saturday morning with volunteers on the phones taking pledges from the comm
-
Searching for the perfect book
A steady stream of people snatched up books, magazines, DVDs and more at the annual Pages for Pennies book sale at Bridge View Center this weekend.
-
Staff eager for swimmers Beach Ottumwa improvements
OTTUMWA — When kids talk about the last weeks of school, one subject that often comes up is The Beach Ottumwa. It'll be ready soon, said employees. On Friday, the maintenance staff was installing the fountain heads that shoot water straight up at the
- Mixed reactions to tax reduction OTTUMWA — During past public forums in Ottumwa, Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, told voters the state should follow its own laws and make taxes equal across the board. This week, legislators in Des Moines took a first step toward that goal, which is a
-
New sports store coming to mall
OTTUMWA — A new tenant is coming to Quincy Place Mall. Lexington Realty International announced Friday afternoon the mall's newest tenant, MC Sports. Construction has already begun, and the store is anticipated to open just in time for back-to-school
-
Ottumwa teen earns criminal justice scholarship
OTTUMWA — A high school senior who shares the work ethic and spunk of the late Lisa Caldwell has been awarded a scholarship in her honor. Ottumwan Hunter Varner, a senior at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School, earned the first Wapello County Sh
- Budget shift on county agenda OTTUMWA — There's nothing like having some money in the budget to cover a project that doesn't have enough money on its line item. The Wapello County Supervisors will need to move some money to an item that has spent all of its funding, according to
- Wellness challenge asks people to live healthy OTTUMWA — Are you ready for the Live Healthy Iowa 10-Week Wellness Challenge? Some of the city employees joined Live Healthy Iowa, and Jody Gates, the city's health director, was captain of one of the two teams of about a dozen people. "Our goals for
-
Community gardens gain ground
OTTUMWA -- In just one month, community gardens have begun to sprout north of Ottumwa. So far, the gardens near the Ottumwa Industrial Park feature 12 raised beds, compost and a compost tumbler, a pallet bench, three oversized tires that will contain
-
Agency couple has provided foster care for 38 kids in last decade
AGENCY — School pictures of 38 grinning children look out into Angie and Terry Hamm's living room, evidence of the years of work and love they've given to those who needed it most. Their house — currently filled with five children, ages 7, 10, 10, 11
- More Local News Headlines
