Important new requirements for 2008-9 school year

This year in the state, under-immunized children have been responsible for outbreaks of measles, chickenpox and pertussis (“whooping cough”). Parents can protect their children and those around them for this upcoming school year by making sure vaccinations are complete.

Besides increasing the risk of getting a disease, a child who is not fully immunized may be excluded from attending school or child care during an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, possibly lasting weeks. A child with a vaccine-preventable illness can also infect others who do not have the option of vaccine protection, like those with a weakened immune system, pregnant women or infants too young to be completely protected by vaccines.

Some school grades have new vaccine requirements:

• Students entering sixth and seventh grade must receive the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.

This vaccine is better than the tetanus booster (Td) because it also protects older kids against pertussis. Young children receive a vaccine (DTaP) that prevents the same diseases, but protection starts to wear off in the early teen years. Reducing pertussis in teens and adults lowers the risk of pertussis in infants, for whom the disease can be life-threatening.

• Children beginning first, second and sixth grades must get the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine or document that they have had the disease. Kindergarteners need two doses of the vaccine.

For the complete vaccination schedule, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/school.htm.