San Francisco Provides Whooping Cough Vaccinations For Kids

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The San Francisco Department of Public Health is helping parents comply with the new state law requiring proof of a whooping cough vaccination for all students attending public middle or high school.

The new law requires that all 7th through 12th graders have proof of one dose of pertussis-containing vaccine.

Nearly 500 students were given a whooping cough booster shot at a free, drop-in clinic in the gymnasium of John O'Connell High School on Folsom Street on Saturday.

KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:

Erin Bachus with the San Francisco Department of Public Health said that there is a big demand for clinics.

"Because so many students in California do have to be vaccinated, including about 25,000 in San Francisco alone, we wanted to be able to provide several clinics so that parents who don't have providers or if they can't get in to their provider for an appointment have somewhere to go to get a shot," she said.

Many parents who attended this weekend's clinic said getting the shot at the high school was much more convenient than having to make an appointment with their doctor.

The state law was passed in response to last year's whooping cough epidemic. Bachus said another clinic is set for August 6.

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