Sutter Lakeside Hospital Mobile Health Services Unit will be providing a Tdap Vaccination Clinic to school aged children Aug 15-19, 2011, at various locations.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – As children prepare to head back to school in a few weeks, California health officials are requiring parents to add one more item to the school supplies list for all seventh through 12th graders – a whooping cough booster shot.

A new school immunization law requires all students entering seventh through 12th grades in the 2011-12 school year in California to be immunized with a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine booster called Tdap.

Pertussis is a very contagious respiratory disease that can be severe and last for months. The immunity received from either early childhood immunization or pertussis disease wears off over time, leaving older students and adults susceptible again to pertussis.

Immunization with Tdap can protect students, schools and communities against pertussis.

The new requirement affects all students – current, new, and transfers – in public and private schools. Updated immunization records will need to be presented to the school office before the start of the new school year.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s Mobile Health Services Unit will be hosting a Tdap vaccination clinic for school aged children.

The Tdap vaccination clinics will be provided on the following dates at the following locations:

• Monday, Aug. 15: Kelseyville Lumber, 3555 N. Main St., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.;

• Tuesday, Aug. 16: Live Oak Senior Center, 12502 Foothill Blvd., Clearlake Oaks, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.;

• Wednesday, Aug. 17: Lucerne Senior Center, 10^th and Country Club, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.;

• Thursday, Aug. 18: Bruno’s Shop Smart parking lot, 355 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

• Friday, Aug. 19: Middletown, across the street from post office (the post office is located at 16595 Highway 175), from 10 a.m. to noon.

No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are welcome. Qualified patients may sign up for free coverage.

Please bring your insurance card and immunization record. A parent or guardian must be present to receive vaccination.

For more information, call the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Mobile Unit at 707-262-5076 or visit www.sutterlakeside.org.