A Few DSUSD Students Still Need Vaccine

Only about two percent of middle and high school students in Riverside County still need to be vaccinated against whooping cough before they can remain in class, a county health official said today.

Students between seventh and 12th grades had until Tuesday, Sept. 27 to provide proof of immunization, according to Jose Arballo, a spokesman for the Riverside County Department of Public Health.

Denise Magee, director student support services/special education for the Desert Sands Unified School District, told Patch that only 194 students still need proof of immunization in her district.

"They’re tracking down every kid," Magee said. "It’s the law. We have to exclude these kids."

She said that only about 150 students opted out of the vaccine with a waiver for medical or religious reasons.

Several county districts have a 100 percent compliance rate – taking into account those who have received the shot and those requesting a medical or personal belief exemption waiver, Arballo said.

The list includes:

• Alvord Unified School District
• Murrieta Valley Unfied School District
• Nuview Unified School District
• Perris Elementary School District
• Temecula Valley Unified School District

In the Coachella Valley and other desert area, those close to compliance included the Palm Springs Unified School District at 99.6 percent, the Coachella Valley Unified School District at 98.76 percent and the Palo Verde Unified School District at 99.3 percent.

Dr. Eric Frykman, the county’s health officer, said the goal is to make sure all students have the vaccine.

“There are sufficient vaccine doses available so that anyone who needs one can get one,” Frykman said.

Under state law, students were required to show proof of vaccination before being allowed to enroll in school. The law went into effect on July 1.

Each school district is responsible for determining how it will comply with the law.

In California, more than 9,000 people contracted whooping cough (Pertussis) last year and 10 infants died from during the outbreak, according to Arballo.

Families without insurance can take their children to one of 10 Public Health Family Care Centers in Riverside County, he said.

For more information, please visit http: www.rivcoph.org/pertussis or www.ShotsforSchool.org.

*Earlier the story incorrectly stated the number of students who need the vaccine. That number has been revised to reflect that only 2 percent still need the whooping cough vaccine.