[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Back to School Immunizations

[Press Releases]

For Immediate Release
August 10, 2010
 
Contact:
Trina Teacutter, Public Health Nursing Supervisor
573.874.6303 or tdteacut at GoColumbiaMo.com 
 
Immunization Requirements Change for Missouri School Children
Health Department Reminds Parents to Vaccinate Before School Starts 
 
As children around the county prepare to head back to school, the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services reminds parents that school immunizations are an important part of that preparation. Immunization rules for children enrolled in Missouri schools were revised in November 2009. The revisions affect minimum immunization requirements for children enrolled in Missouri public, private, and parochial schools; day cares; preschools or nursery schools. 
 
Complete rule changes are available at the health department. A summary of the changes for school children (effective beginning the 2010-2011 school year) include:
·         Second dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for all children entering kindergarten. Exceptions are made for children who have had a documented case of varicella (chickenpox), but a physician must provide a statement as proof the child had the disease. For children enrolled in grades one (1) through five (5), only one dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is required. 
·         Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine will be required for all incoming eighth (8th) grade students if the child has completed the recommended childhood DTaP/DTP vaccination series and has not received a Td booster within the past two (2) years. For children enrolled in grades nine (9) through twelve (12), public health nurses can make recommendations for parents to ensure those children are up-to-date.  
Day care, preschool and nursery school changes can be explained by calling the health department at 573.874.7356. Many post-secondary institutions require incoming students to have a meningitis immunization. While the meningitis vaccine is often required for college-bound students, the health department recommends it for all children ages 11-18.
 
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services offers the required school immunizations on a walk-in basis, Monday – Friday from 8 am – 4:30 pm. Parents are reminded to always bring up-to-date immunization records for children receiving vaccine. Students must show documentation of up-to-date immunization status, including the month, day and year of each immunization before they can attend school. 
 
Proper immunizations are essential to public health. Many of the diseases that severely affected children 50 years ago are now rare, thanks in part to vaccines, the health professionals who offer them and the parents who responsibly vaccinate their children. For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/. 
 
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