More than 860 students in the Piedmont are at risk of being kept out of school Wednesday if they don't get immunized.
Tuesday is the deadline for all North Carolina public school students to have their TDAP vaccination. It protects adolescents and adults from tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough. According to state law, children must turn in medical forms showing they've been immunized. Those who are not vaccinated will not be allowed to attend school Wednesday. In 2013, North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services reported 625 cases of whooping cough.
Robin Bergeron-Nolan, director of health services for Guilford County Schools, says 368 students still need to get their TDAP shot. However, Bergeron-Nolan says there are two ways a child can be exempted, if the proper forms are submitted.
"One is a medical exemption. Perhaps a child in taking the series of shots may have other health conditions. The second is a religious exemption," explains Bergeron-Nolan.
According to Bergeron-Nolan, the Guilford County Health Department is running clinics now through Thursday where parents can get their children vaccinated. In Forsyth County, the health department has walk-in clinics until Friday. Theo Helm with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System says there are about 500 students who still need their TDAP vaccine.
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