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SFUSD outlines free Tdap clinics after state requires booster for grades 7 and 12
Summary
Superintendent Garcia and district health staff said California law AB 354 requires a Tdap (whooping cough) booster for students entering grades 7 and 12 by August 2011 and announced at least three free Saturday clinics, multilingual outreach and a district‑health task force to document compliance.
Superintendent Garcia told the Board of Education that state legislation (AB 354) now requires students entering seventh and twelfth grades to show proof of a Tdap (pertussis) booster before the first day of school in August 2011. "By law students without proof of the Tdap vaccine will not be able to attend school until the requirement is met," the superintendent said.
Deputy and health staff detailed district plans to help families comply. Associate Superintendent Kevin Truitt said the district has formed an interagency Tdap task force, has run automated phone messages and posted notices in Chinese, English and Spanish, and will co‑sponsor free Saturday vaccine clinics with the San Francisco Department of Public Health. "The first clinic will be Saturday, March 19 from 11 to 4 at Roosevelt Middle School," he said, adding a second clinic on May 14 at O'Connell High School and a third date to be scheduled.
Truitt and district nurses emphasized access supports: consent forms will be available at schools so unaccompanied students may receive the vaccine, trilingual flyers are being distributed and the district website (healthiersf.org) and the state's shotsforschool.org site have more information. Board members and a speaker at the meeting framed the requirement as lifesaving: one board speaker noted, "10 California babies have already died in the state this year," urging families to use regular pediatricians when possible so records remain centralized.
The district asked schools and parents to help identify students without proof of immunization so staff can direct them to clinics. There was no board motion on the item; this was an informational presentation and the district said it will continue outreach and roll out further clinic dates.
Next steps: the task force will continue monthly coordination with public health, the district will post clinic details and consent forms online and at school sites, and staff said they will monitor compliance before the start of the 2011 school year.
