SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Spanish Fort parents with students entering the sixth grade are reminded that proof of TDAP boosters must be presented by Aug. 15 in order for enrollment to be allowed.

Email alerts regarding the booster requirement began trickling into inboxes from the Baldwin County Public Schools’ central office July 25.

TDAP boosters immunize children against tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis, or whooping cough. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, pertussis is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal bacterial infection for which rates have increased dramatically during the past decade.

The pertussis component was added to the cocktail immunization in 2010, but school officials want to be certain parents don’t forget the new statewide requirement.

Winkler Sims, director of the statewide department’s immunization division, said the age of 11 was selected because adolescents have one of the statistically highest rates of pertussis cases.

"The sixth grade requirement for students age 11 or older will protect students from pertussis at the adolescent age in school and will protect them through the remainder of their school experience" Sims said.

According to the most recent figures available, the number of reported pertussis cases in Alabama more than quadrupled to 315 between 2008 and 2009, and some 93 cases were reported during the first six months of 2010 alone.

For more information, visit www.adph.org.