Back to School: Student immunization required

PANAMA CITY — Kindergarteners and seventh-graders are required by law to complete a series of shots before attending the first day of school.

“When one child is not immunized, it puts others at risk to catch these communicable diseases which are completely preventable by immunizing the children,” said Laura McKinney, public health services manager at the Bay County Health Department, 597 W. 11th St.

Vaccines cause the body to produce antibodies, which in turn fight against diseases.

All children at public, private and home schools must submit an updated immunization record before attending school on Aug. 19, officials said. Religious exemptions are available upon submission of proper documentation.

Immunization “just promotes the overall health with the whole community in Bay County. It makes it safe for everybody and their families,” said Sandon Speedingly, assistant county health department director.

Parents who do not have their child’s shot record updated shouldn’t delay any longer, officials said.

“It’s really important not to wait because it’s a walk-in basis and people have to wait longer,” McKinney said. “And it allows our staff to give a few more minutes to answer all those questions that families have.”

The Bay County Department of Health provides free immunization for qualifying patients. The clinic accepts health insurance, as well.

In addition to submitting an updated shot record, each student who is entering a Florida school for the first time, must submit — within 30 days of the start of school — evidence that the student has completed a health examination within the previous 12-month period.

For more information about health forms and requirements, contact your family doctor or the Bay County Health Department, 872-4455.

Kindergarten

The following vaccinations must be completed before attending kindergarten:

Completed series of DTP/DTaP (tiphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis)

2-dose MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)

Completed series of polio vaccine

2-dose varicella (chicken pox)

3-dose hepatitis B series

Seventh grade

Required:

An up-to-date tetanus vaccine is mandatory. Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine is required instead of the older tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine. Tdap should be administered to meet the seventh grade requirement, regardless of the interval since the last tetanus- or diphtheria-toxoid containing vaccine. 

2-dose MMR and 3-dose hepatitis B series

Recommended:

HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is available to 9-18 year old girls. This vaccine prevents infection by HPV that causes 70 percent of all cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine is a series of three doses given over a six month period.

Meningococcal vaccine protects against meningitis and is given at 11-12 years of age

Two doses of varicella (chicken pox) vaccine (previously only one dose was recommended)

Immunization list was pulled from BDH website http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chd/bay/SchoolShots.html