In a dozen days, most Fayette County Public School students will be back in classrooms, and with new cases of whooping cough being reported every week, officials are reminding parents to get their kids vaccinated. Debbie Boian is the school district’s health services coordinator. She said they’ve increased outreach efforts on their parent portal and are offering vaccinations.
“We've partnered with Health First Bluegrass and with the University of Kentucky and the health department to get extra vaccinations out there, because this time of year, it is really hard for parents to get in and see a provider.”
Boian said while vaccinations for whooping cough, or pertussis, are required for public school students, there are medical and religious exemptions. She also encouraged parents to get their kids vaccinated.
“The vaccines have been proven very safe, and no one ever died from a disease they never got. Whooping cough in small children especially, is horrendous to see.”
Boian said anyone who doubts that can do an Internet search for the disease and find videos that are very disturbing.
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