Children encouraged to get immunizations early

With spring just around the corner, public health nurses at the Polk County Health Department are already encouraging parents to beat the coming summer’s back- toschool rush by making an appointment now for their incoming seventh grader to get the adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster vaccination, called “Tdap,” and the MCV4 adolescent meningococcal vaccination.

These two immunizations are required by law for all students born on or after January 1, 2002, and entering, advancing or transferring into 7th grade and any “new ent rant” i nto 8th - 12th grades in Georgia.

“Parents, get it done now and get it out of the way,” says health department Nurse Manager Malindy Ely. “We’ll give you the Georgia Immunization Certificate you need for proof of both vaccinations and suggest you make a copy, keep it or the original in a safe place and go ahead and send the other to the school. Check this requirement for all public and private schools off your to-do list today.”

Students transferring into 8th through 12th grades, from either out of state or within Georgia, are also subject to these 7th grade vaccination re- quirements, and Ely advises their parents to satisfy them early, too.

Georgia Preteen Vaccination Awareness Week is March 13- 17. Ely suggests “this is a good reminder for parents to speak with health department nurses or your physician to find out if your preteen is up-to-date regarding preteen immunizations, particularly Georgia’s pertussis and meningococcal requirements for incoming seventh-grade students.”

The CDC currently recommends the following vaccines for preteens and teens:

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) Influenza (flu) Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Meningococcal Disease (MCV4)

Ely reminds that the health department, 125 East Ware Street, Cedartown, “is open Monday through Friday. Some services are available on a walk-in basis, but clients should call and schedule an appointment for immunizations.” Health department hours are Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Call the health department at 770-749-2270 or visit http://nwgapublichealth. org/counties/polk/ for additional information.