County encourages vaccinations
Protect children from routine and new vaccine-preventable diseases
Back-to-school time is just around the corner and Island County is encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated.
As new diseases surface around the globe, it's more important than ever for kids to be fully immunized.
"Make sure they're protected and prepared this school year by getting your kids vaccinated," said State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes, a pediatrician.
Childhood vaccinations are the most effective way to protect children against serious and preventable illnesses, such as measles, chickenpox, and whooping cough
There have been outbreaks in our county in the past year, Hayes said.
Cases of swine flu (H1N1) have been reported in Island County and federal swine flu vaccination recommendations are expected to be issued soon.
Parents should use the next several weeks to ensure their kids have all the immunizations they need to begin school. Yearly health checkups help identify immunizations that are due each child.
"There's been a lot of news coverage about disease outbreaks this year, and it's hard to predict what will happen in the coming months," Hayes said.
"It's more important than ever to make sure your kids are up to date on their immunizations as they head back to school."
Several new immunizations are required before children can attend school and child care. Students entering sixth and seventh grades must have received one dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. This booster shot protects older kids against whooping cough (pertussis).
Young children receive a vaccine that prevents the same diseases, but protection starts to wear off in the early teen years, so Tdap is important for preteens.
Kids starting second, third and sixth grades must have one dose of the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine or have a doctor document that they've had the disease. Kindergarteners and first-graders need two doses of the varicella vaccine. Parent-reported history of chickenpox is not an acceptable alternative any more.
Although exemptions are allowed for medical, religious, or personal reasons, the best disease protection is to make sure children have all recommended immunizations. Children who are not fully immunized may be excluded from attending school, preschool, or childcare if a disease outbreak occurs.
Health care providers can use the CHILD Profile Immunization Registry to help parents complete the necessary school entry paperwork by printing it directly from the registry. Parents should request their child's shot records a month before school and use their regular health care providers for all childhood vaccinations when possible.
