New immunization requirements to take effect Aug. 1

New immunization requirements to take effect Aug. 1

By Teresa Pione Wednesday, 13 May 2009

New immunization requirements for school children implemented by the Texas Department of State Health Services will be effective before the next school year begins. Five changes include new vaccines for kindergarten and seventh grade students.

Assistant Press Officer of TDSHS Emily Palmer said the new state requirements reflect federal guidelines.

“We try to keep in line with the immunization schedule of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the advisory of immune practice,” Palmer said.

New vaccinations effective August 1 include:

• Hepatitis A Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten, statewide, will be required to have two doses of Hepatitis A Vaccine.
• Varicella (Chicken pox) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten and seventh grade will be required to have two doses of varicella vaccine. A written statement from a parent, legal guardian, managing conservator, school nurse or physician attesting to a child’s positive history of varicella disease or of varicella immunity, is acceptable in lieu of either dose of varicella vaccine.
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) Vaccine: All students entering the seventh grade will be required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in the seventh grade will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap only it if has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Students in grade 8-12 are required to have a booster dose of Tdap if is has been ten years since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exists.

Meningococcal (Meningitis) Vaccine: All students entering seventh grade will be required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine.

Visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us or call 458-7400 for more information.