School prep should include vaccination check

The July 4 holiday obviously is a time to celebrate.

But for parents of schoolage children, it also sets off a reminder in their mental calendar — school is just one month away.

With that in mind, it's time to start going through the “to-do” checklist. One of those things is vaccinations for kids entering school or middle-schoolers.

The Mississippi Department of Health reminds parents not to wait until the last minute for back-to-school immunizations. State law requires children to be immunized against childhood diseases to enter public or private school, Head Start or daycare.

More than 99 percent of all students entering kindergarten in Mississippi are up to date on their immunizations, protecting them – and others who cannot be vaccinated – against potentially deadly diseases.

“There are many options for where to get your vaccinations now, including private medical providers, retail pharmacies and county health departments,” said MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. “Regardless of where you have your child vaccinated, it's incredibly important to make sure they are up to date on their immunizations. It is the best protection for your child and those around them.”

Vaccinations are required for first-time school entry in Mississippi as well as a requirement for 7th grade entry.

“A Tdap (tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis) booster vaccination is required for those entering seventh grade. To make sure your adolescent is completely protected, we also recommend they get the HPV (human papillomavirus) and meningococcal vaccinations at the same time,” said Dr. Byers.

Parents must provide the school with a Certificate of Immunization Compliance (Form 121) from their immunization provider prior to school entry.

Check with a personal physician or county health department with questions about which immunizations a child will need. Childhood immunizations are available at county health departments by appointment.

For information on immunization requirements or medical exemptions for school entry, visit www.healthyms. com/immunizations.