Several new vaccines are required for Wisconsin students in the 2008-09 school year. The state Immunization Program Director Dan Hopfensperger says there's one in particular he's excited about Tetanus, Diphtheria and Accellular Pertussis (TDAP). He says it's their "first opportunity" to be able to protect for pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in preteens and beyond.
The concern is not so much adolescents or adults contracting the disease but rather spreading it to younger kids and infants who are more seriously affected.
For families who can't afford or are not insured for the shots, Hopfensperger says inoculations are available through their local health department.
Also new this year, for day care kids is Pnuemococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) for bacterial meningitis and other blood infections. Students entering grades 6, 9 and 12 will need Varicella for chicken pox.
