news-record.com

GREENSBORO — Beginning Thursday sixth grade students who do not have vaccination information on file will not be allowed to attend school.

State law requires every sixth-grader entering school after Aug. 1, or any student who turned 12 on or after that date, to receive a Tdap booster if five or more years have passed since the student last received that vaccine. Tdap inoculates against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, known as whooping cough. The law requires the schools to suspend students who do not provide the vaccination information. There is an exception for parents who cite religious beliefs for not vaccinating their child.

The law took effect last year. The new requirement caught many parents off guard, with 3,000 students needing to provide vaccination information by the deadline last year.

The picture is a little brighter this year. As of Friday, there were 606 students without Tdap vaccination information on file, according to school system officials.

Robin Bergeron, the school system’s director of health, attributed the progress this year to the district’s intense awareness efforts.

“In comparison to what we went through last year, we’re very pleased where we’re at,” Bergeron said.

The school system began publicizing the vaccination requirement in March, with notes going home with all fifth-graders. The school system held vaccination clinics during middle school open houses.

Vaccinations are available free from the county health department by appointment.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com

UPDATE: This story has been corrected from its original version.