Des Moines, IA (KICD) -- A vaccine requirement goes into effect today(Wednesday).

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Bureau of Immunization will require tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Don Callaghan is with the IDPH. He says that students enrolling in seventh grade born on or after September 15th, 2000 are required to get the vaccine...

. Callaghan says the requirement was necessary, because of the dramatic increase of pertussis cases in Iowa...

I For anyone that is not sure exactly what pertussis is or what the symptoms are, Callaghan gives a rundown what to look for...

.Pertussis can cause serious illness in infants, children and adults. While treatment with antibiotics will prevent an individual diagnosed with pertussis from spreading the disease, the cough may continue to last for weeks.
The National Immunization Survey (NIS) Teen, 2011 results indicates 74.7 percent of Iowa adolescents 13-17 years have received the Tdap vaccine compared to the national average of 78.2 percent.