Fargo Cass Public Health reminds parents to vaccinate their children in time for school

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo Cass Public Health is starting the season of vaccinations. As the school year is soon to kick off for grade schoolers and college students, the need to vaccinate may be required.

“No vaccine is perfect. And I think we all know that we’ve seen even, especially Pertussis, we’ve seen people that are vaccinated against pertussis and still get whooping cough. However, the idea is the more people we get vaccinated, the more likely it won’t spread in our community,” said Cheryl Wavrin, Immunization Coordinator at Fargo Cass Public Health.

Students will typically miss one day of school for a sick day or an injury. In the last year, Cass County has had seven cases of both measles and pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

“Both pertussis and MMR would create disruption to their schooling. It will disrupt whether they can go to activities. So we want to keep our kiddos safe, healthy in school, in their activities, living their lives, and happy,” said Wavrin.

Pertussis has been most commonly found in children from elementary to high school age. It causes severe coughing fits, often followed by a high-pitched “whooping” sound after coughing. Measles can cause a rash all over the body, followed by a fever, runny nose, and cough.

“These diseases are not gone, they are here, and we know that now, in particular because of measles and pertussis, it is with us. And we see pertussis every year, so they’re not gone. Polio will come back. It hasn’t been eliminated on the planet. So not to vaccinate is a risk that you take,” said Wavrin.

Fargo Cass Public Health will be hosting a vaccine clinic on August 19th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For more information, contact Fargo Cass Public Health at (701) 241-1360