1400 North Carolina students face suspension for lack of vaccination

Approximately 1,400 students in North Carolina are due to be suspended on Wednesday because they have not received a TDaP (tetanus, diptheria and pertussis) vaccine. As of Tuesday, 750 sixth-graders in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County and 600 students in Guilford County schools have not presented documentation of getting the shot.  State law requires students be suspended if they do not receive the vaccination within 30 days of the new school year.

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, can be deadly to infants. Forsyth County saw one infant death due to pertussis last year, and this year has recorded 98 cases, including six infants. The county's public health department is offering the vaccination free of charge until the number of cases drops.