The California Immunization Coalition

The Fight for AB354- The Pertussis Booster Vaccination requirement

Liseli MulalaDolapo Afolayan

Dana Pong

California Immunization Coalition (CIC)

• The CIC is a statewide, non-profit, public-partnership organization that originated when the Childhood Immunization Coalition and the California Adult Immunization Coalition merged in 2008.

The CIC Mission

• The Mission of the CIC is “ achieving and maintaining full immunization protection for all Californians to promote health and prevent serious illnesses.”

( CIC website 2011)

Assembly 354 Bill

• Introduced by Assembly members Juan Arambula and Steven Fletcher requires:– In 2011-2012, all 7-12th graders in public and

private schools to show proof of receiving the pertussis booster vaccination before being allowed to enter school

– In 2012-2013, the requirement reverts to just 7th graders

Tetanus Diptheria Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine

• The Tdap vaccine was approved in 2005 as an adult booster.

• Diptheria Tetanus pertussis (Dtap) is the pediatric vaccine 5 shots given at 15-18months, 2 ,4 and 6 years.

• Immunity wanes in 10 years so Tdap is indicated as a booster starting from 11 years of age.

What is Pertussis

• Pertussis otherwise known as whooping cough is a bacterial infection characterized by a severe cough with a whooping sound. It is most severe in infants 3 months and under and can result in pneumonia, seizures, choking or death.(www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vis-tdap)

Why vaccinate?

• The only way to protect vulnerable infants is to vaccinate those around them, primarily their older siblings and adult caretakers.

Pertussis in California

• Pertussis has been recurring in California in 3 to 5 year cycles.

• The CIC started advocating for this bill in 2006. They warned legislators that pertussis outbreaks were becoming worse.

The 2010 Epidemic

• In 2010, there were 6 deaths of infants in California and 1300 cases of pertussis, the highest in the nation. This gained the attention of national media and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Passage of the Bill

• After 4 years of trying, the bill was finally passed with Arambula and Fletcher in September of 2010 and signed into law by the Governor.

Results of the Bill

• Once the bill was passed, it went into effect in 2011.

• Approximately, one a half million adolescents were vaccinated after the bill was passed.

Future Results

• Experts predict that costs of the bill will be offset by the reduction in morbidity, mortality and future outbreaks.

Conclusion

• The CIC was instrumental in getting the bill passed which was a great leap forward in preventative health.

• Legislation is one tool to continue to improve vaccination rates.

Acknowledgements

• Catherine Flores Martin, Executive Director of the California Immunization Coalition

• Jeffrey A. Wong PharmD • Andrew Resignato MSc.• Ramon Castellblanch PhD• Cohort 2012