08/12/2007: "New Requirements For Immunizations"

Summer’s end is rapidly approaching -- just 2 short weeks away! One way to prepare your child for school is by finding and checking your child or teen’s immunizations. There have been many changes in the recommendations and a whole new schedule for the 11 to 12 year old group.

For some vaccine preventable diseases the vaccine protection starts to wear off in the early teen years making it necessary to have a booster vaccine. “Immunizations not only protect children, but they also protect the people they come into contact with, including other kids in school,” said Dr. Maxine Hayes, state health officer and a pediatrician. “Getting children immunized is the best way to protect your family and other children from getting sick.”

There is a new requirement for this school year involving the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.

Pertussis or Whooping Cough is highly contagious and results in a prolonged cough that can last for weeks causing sleeplessness and fatigue that can result in erratic school/work attendance as well as pneumonia or hospitalization. Reported pertussis cases in the United States are on the rise. There were more than 25,000 cases in 2005. If it is transmitted to infants, it may be life threatening. The new Tdap booster is an improvement over the old Td booster because it adds the protection for whooping cough while still maintaining protection from tetanus and diphtheria. Kids entering sixth grade should be vaccinated if they are 11 or older and if it has been five years since they last received a tetanus vaccine. This booster shot protects older children against whooping cough (pertussis).

Children over 19 months who attend licensed child care or preschool and kids starting kindergarten, first grade, and sixth grade must get the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine or document they’ve had the disease.

Although exemptions are allowed for medical, religious or personal reasons, the best disease protection is to make sure children have all recommended immunizations. Children who are not fully immunized may be excluded from attending school, preschool or childcare if a disease outbreak occurs.

Parents may also consider the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. This vaccine is recommended for girls 11 to 12 and is available for females 13 to 26 years old. This new vaccine provides protection against four types of HPV— two that cause 70 percent of cervical cancers and two that cause 90 percent of genital warts.

Parents can request their child’s shot records a month before school and can use their regular health care providers or the health department for all childhood vaccinations whenever possible. Research shows that preteens generally do not get preventative healthcare and only visit the doctor when they are sick. The preteen check-up is a great time to talk with your child’s healthcare provider about your child’s development, nutrition, safety, and vaccination status.

For help finding a health care provider or an immunization clinic, call San Juan County Health Department at 378-4474 or check the websites Within Reach (www.withinreachwa.org) or Parent Help 123 (www.parenthelp123.org) or Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588. For more information about what immunization you child might need, try www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/.

For more information please contact: Susan Leff, Public Health Nurse
San Juan County Health and Community Services 378-4474