Tommy Mann, Jr.
The Orange Leader
July 08, 2009 06:45 pm
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With changes coming for school immunization requirements next month, the Vidor Independent School District is attempting to help make the process as easy as possible for parents of area school children.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, changes to school immunization requirements for five vaccines take effect August 1. Those immunizations include Hepatitis A, varicella (chicken pox), MMR, Hepatitis B, pneumococcal, meningococcal, IPV and the Tdap.
Terry Rhodes, Vidor ISD nurse coordinator, said the district is offering the first of two vaccination events today from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., inside the Vidor Elementary school library.
“This is something we decided to offer to anyone and everyone,” Rhodes said. “That includes the students and parents of the Vidor Independent School District, plus anyone else from any school district. Even adults are welcome to attend if they just want to get updated on vaccinations.”
Rhodes said all state required immunizations will be available today. The cost is $14 for any one injection, $20 for two injections or $25 for three or more injections.
“These immunizations are available at a considerable savings, unless your insurance covers the cost of the vaccination, and some don’t,” Rhodes added. “The convenience of having an immunization clinic like this, which is open to anyone regardless of insurance or not, is hard to beat.”
Rhodes said parents are not required to bring a child’s shot record, but it would be helpful.
“The shot records aren’t necessary, but, if the parent has it, then our staff will fill it out for them. Plus, all information will be entered into the state registry which school nurses anywhere are able to access.”
Immunovax will also be on hand during seventh grade “Junior High Jump Start” from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., Aug. 5, to administer immunizations to those seventh graders who do not have them yet. This event is also open to anyone, including elementary students who still need immunizations for school.
“The changes were made to update Texas elementary and secondary school immunization requirements to more closely match recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,” said Jack Sims, DSHS immunization branch manager, in a press release.
The vaccines and new requirements are:
• Hepatitis A vaccine: Students entering kindergarten statewide must have two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine.
• Measles, Munps and Rubella: Students entering kindergarten must have had two doses of the MMR vaccine. Students in grade 1 through 12 must continue to meet the current requirement, which is two doses of a measles-containing vaccine and one dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine.
• Varicella vaccine: Students entering kindergarten and seventh grade must have had two doses. Students in first through sixth-grades, and eighth through twelfth grades must continue to meet the current requirement, which is one does of varicella vaccine.
• Tetanus, diphtheria, accelluar pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap): Students entering seventh grade must have had one dose of the Tdap vaccine. Students in seventh grade must have had a booster dose of Tdap, but only if it has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Students in grade 8 through 12 must have had a booster dose of Tdap if it has been 10 years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine.
• Meningococcal vaccine: Students entering seventh grade must have had one dose.
“A student may be enrolled provisionally if the student has received at least one dose of each required vaccine,” Sims said. “To remain enrolled, the student must complete the required doses in each vaccine series on schedule and as quickly as is medically feasible.”
Changes affect mainly students entering kindergarten and seventh grade. All immunizations must be completed by the first day of attendance at public and private schools.
The full list of the new Texas immunization requirements effective August 1 for the 2009-2010 school year is available at www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/docs/school/6-14eng.pdf.
Tommy Mann Jr. is a reporter for The Orange Leader. He can be reached at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com
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