The Sonoma County Department of Public Health will hold two free whooping cough vaccination clinics for middle and high school students beginning Saturday.
Seventh through 12th graders are required to show proof of a pertussis, or whooping cough, vaccination within the first 30 days of the school year or be barred from attending class and school activities, according to a new law that went into affect July 1.
Students can opt out of the vaccination but parents must sign a specific whooping cough waiver in the presence of school officials.
Sonoma County Public Health Department, free
* 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Analy High School, 6950 Analy Ave., Sebastopol
* 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 13
Santa Rosa High School, 1235 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa
In addition to the two Sonoma County clinics, four area health centers are offering extended hours for whooping cough vaccinations. For more information, go to:
* Petaluma Health Center, 1301 Southpoint Blvd.
Call 559-7500 for dates and times
* Jewish Community Free Clinic, 490 City Center Dr., Rohnert Park
3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Children only
Phone: 585-7780
*Roseland Children’s Health Center, 962 Sebastopol Rd.
9 a.m. to noon Aug. 13
9 a.m. to noon Aug. 20
Phone: 578-2005
* Elsie Allen Health Center
599 Bellevue Ave. G-7, Santa Rosa
Third Thursday of the month, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For appointment, call 528-5770
Kaiser Permanente members can get Tdap shots from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 8-12 at the Stein Building, 3925 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa.
Other students are encouraged to talk to their primary care provider.
For more information on the new requirements, go to www.sonoma-county.org/ph or call 565-4477