Notes from the field: Outbreak of pertussis in a school and religious community averse to health care and vaccinations--columbia County, Florida, 2013

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014 Aug 1;63(30):655.

Abstract

On August 30, 2013, the Florida Department of Health in Columbia County was notified of a Bordetella pertussis laboratory-positive unimmunized child attending a local charter school (316 students from pre-K through 8th grade) in a large religious community averse to health care and vaccinations. Kindergarten immunization records showed that only five (15%) of 34 students were fully immunized with pertussis-antigen-containing vaccines. In seventh grade, only one (5%) of 22 students was fully immunized with pertussis-antigen-containing vaccines. Of the children who were not fully immunized in these two grades, 84% had religious exemptions.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude to Health
  • Bordetella pertussis / isolation & purification
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Pertussis Vaccine / administration & dosage*
  • Religion and Medicine*
  • Schools*
  • Vaccination / statistics & numerical data
  • Whooping Cough / epidemiology*
  • Whooping Cough / prevention & control

Substances

  • Pertussis Vaccine