NYA is just one of an unknown number of communities to have a student diagnosed with pertussis/whooping cough. Because of the increased pertussis activity in Maine, the State of Maine Immunization Program has asked that school nurses send out the following letter:

Recently we have seen increased pertussis activities in some communities in the state. We feel that it is important to let parents know that there are vaccines to prevent this disease, especially a new adolescent pertussis vaccine. The Maine immunization program provides free pertussis vaccines for children 18 years and younger.

Pertussis is a communicable disease that is spread from person to person, especially through coughing. Pertussis usually begins with cold-like symptoms (sore throat, running nose, etc.) and often develops into a bad cough. It could become a devastating disease for infants and young children, although about a half of the reported cases in Maine in the past several years were from adolescents and young adults. Some studies showed that the most of sick infants and young children got pertussis from infected adolescents and young adults.

The vaccine is effective in preventing pertussis; in this way, it prevents the student being excluded from school due to the disease. It also helps to prevent pertussis from spreading in the community and hitting at vulnerable infants and young children. We would like you to help us promote the vaccine by encouraging parents to bring their children, especially adolescents, for the shot or discuss the vaccine with their health care providers.

• Children less than 7 years of age should be immunized with 4 or 5 shots of DTaP against pertussis, depending on their age.
• The new pertussis vaccine is for children 11-18 years of age. We strongly recommend taking advantage of this new vaccine for pertussis. It is recommended to give children this vaccine with a 5-year minimum interval from their last pediatric DTaP or adolescent Td dose. This interval could be as short as 2 years minimum, however, if in settings with increased pertussis activity.

If you have any questions please contact your Health Care Provider, the Maine Immunization Program (1-800-867-4775), or Ashley Moody, School Nurse, 846-9051, ext 402 or amoody@nya.org.