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Site SearchSanford, N.C. — More than 1,000 Wake County students could be suspended from school Wednesday if they don't get the required vaccination today.
Clinics were planned Tuesday in 17 of 20 traditional-schedule middle schools in the county to help sixth graders beat the deadline.
A state law that went into effect in January requires that sixth graders provide immunization records showing that they have had the Tdap booster within 30 days of the start of school, or face suspension. The suspension is not a disciplinary measure.
Appointments with doctors can be arranged through Wake County Human Services at 919-212-7000.
The deadline for students in Wake, Durham, Johnston and Cumberland counties is Tuesday; the deadline for those in Lee County is Wednesday.
As of Tuesday morning, almost 1,500 students in Wake County had not had the shot, school records showed. In Durham County, 400 students needed the vaccination. More than 400 students each in Johnston and Cumberland counties still needed to be vaccinated.
Lee school officials sent warning letters to parents last week after records showed that 150 students still had not had the booster.
The immunization requirement changes reflect the growing threat of whopping cough, Mary Owens, supervisor of nursing for the Lee County schools said. Most children have not had a booster shot for that disease since kindergarten.
After several outbreaks in North Carolina schools last year, health experts realized that the standard, 10-year vaccine does not do enough.
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This story is closed for comments.
September 23, 2008 9:20 p.m.
September 23, 2008 5:16 p.m.
There is no scientific evidence that there is any link between Vaccinations and Autism and even if there was it would still be so tiny that it bears no relevence on the decision to vaccinate or not. If we do not vaccinate the vast majority of kids many of them will die. Its as simple as that. You can not vaccinate your kids and you might get lucky but is it appropriate to play a lottery with your childs life? Go walk around a few grave yards and you can see the horrors of the past.....With perhaps only one exception (small pox)and then even only perhaps, all those killers are still out there waiting for their chance.
September 23, 2008 2:49 p.m.
Ok then....so if I don't molest my children then I shouldn't care if others do....Duh!
September 23, 2008 2:39 p.m.
People just need to wake up a little bit and realize there is more of a reason why so many vaccines are pumped into our children than "because it's good for them" or "because thats the law" and realize there are drug companies that are making huge profits from all the drugs we and our children are bombarded with.
September 23, 2008 1:17 p.m.