Parents reminded to get children vaccinated before school
by
Josh Egbert
Story Created:
Aug 19, 2011 at 5:43 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Aug 19, 2011 at 6:36 PM CDT
Summer vacation is nearly over for thousands of area school kids, but is your student ready? One of those back-to-school essentials includes a shot.
For children returning to the classroom, chances are that some of them may still need immunizations.
13 vaccines in all are required for kindergarten through 12th grades including, a mandatory additional chickenpox vaccine.
Parents with kids heading back to school should add a vaccination to the list of must have back-to-school items this year.
"K-12 needs the shot this year," said Anita Sullivan, South Heartland District Health Department.
Changes to Nebraska law now requires all students age 5 and older who have not had chicken pox to provide proof of a second dose of the vaccine.
"The two dose series has been recommended for a long time and I think we may have talked about that when the legislation came out, the legislation caught up with the recommendation," Sullivan said.
But, the rush to get the vaccine before Monday's start date means the Varicella vaccine may not be available immediately.
"Instead of having the kindergarten shots and the 7th grade shots, you've now got the K-12 varicella shots," said Sullivan.
"There are several immunizations that are required by the state of Nebraska for children to attend school, the newest requirement is the chickenpox vaccine," said Nursing Coordinator Marsha Nelson.
Getting the various vaccines may mean less sick days for students and teachers.
"The more students we have immunized, there's like a heard immunity, so the prevalence of the disease is less and so fewer people get sick," said Nelson.
For those students who have yet to receive the Varicella vaccine, the district has extended the deadline to provide proof of the vaccination.
"Our mission is not to keep kids away from school by any means, as long as the parents have a plan, either they have an appointment set up with their physician or the immunization clinic, then they're good to go," Nelson said.
Although there is no shortage of the chickenpox vaccine, many clinics did run out because of the back-to-school rush. If your child still needs any of the vaccines, you are encouraged to contact your family physician.
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