Do Your Children Have Their SHOTS for School Yet?

Jul 18, 2013 at 08:18 am by bryan


Do your children have their back to school shots yet? If not, the state is encouraging parents to take charge and make sure your children are ready for the start of classes in August. 

Meri-Leigh Smith who coordinates health initiatives within the Murfreesboro City School System told us only two exemptions exist that will allow for a child to skip the required shots prior to the start of the school year.

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The Tennessee Department of Health reports that specific immunizations are required for children entering child care or pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten and seventh grade, and for any children in other grades enrolling in a Tennessee school for the first time. For a list of required immunizations, visit http://health.state.tn.us/CEDS/required.htm. School certificates may be obtained from your child’s healthcare provider or from a local health department. Questions about school policies on when or how immunization certificates must be provided should be directed to local schools.  

Full-time college students in Tennessee are also required to have immunizations, including a new state law effective July 1, 2013, requiring freshmen younger than 22 years of age who attend state colleges and will live in campus housing to provide proof of immunization against meningococcal disease.

“Getting vaccinated is a safe and simple way to protect us all from potentially deadly diseases,” said TDH Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH. “Vaccination also helps ensure students don’t miss important classroom time due to preventable illnesses, and that parents don’t have to miss work to care for sick children.”

Children enrolling in child care facilities, pre-school, pre-Kindergarten:

Infants entering child care facilities must be up to date at the time of enrollment and are required to provide an updated certificate after completing all of the required vaccines due by 18 months of age. 

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate) 

• Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV) 

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (1 dose of each, usually given together as MMR) 

• Varicella (1 dose or history of disease) 

• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib): age younger than 5 years only (this requirement is resumed immediately, following suspension during a national Hib vaccine shortage 2008-2009)

• Hepatitis B (HBV) (July 1, 2010)

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV): age younger than 5 years only (July 1, 2010)

• Hepatitis A: 1 dose, required by 18 months of age or older (July 1, 2010) Children enrolling in Kindergarten:

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate) 

• Hepatitis B (HBV) 

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2 doses of each, usually given together as MMR) 

• Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV): final dose on or after the 4th birthday now required

• Varicella (2 doses or history of disease): previously only one dose was required (July 1, 2010)

• Hepatitis A: total of 2 doses, spaced at least 6 months apart (July 1, 2011) 

All children entering 7th grade (including currently enrolled students):

• Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster (“Tdap”): not required if a Td booster dose given less than 5 years before 7th grade entry is recorded on the DTaP/Td line (no later than October 1, 2010)

• Verification of immunity to varicella: 2 doses or history of disease (July 1, 2010)

Children who are new enrollees in a TN school in grades other than Kindergarten or 7th:

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate) 

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2 doses of each, usually given together as MMR) 

• Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV): final dose on or after the 4th birthday now required

• Varicella (2 doses or history of disease): previously only one dose was required 

• Hepatitis B (HBV): previously only for Kindergarten, 7th grade entry Children with medical or religious exemption to requirements:

• Medical: Physician or health department authorized to indicate specific vaccines medically exempted (because of risk of harm) on the new form. Other vaccines remain required.

• Religious: Requires a signed statement by the parent/guardian that vaccination conflicts with their religious tenets or practices. If documentation of a health examination is required by the school, it must be noted by the healthcare provider on the immunization certificate. In that case, the provider should check the box that the parent has sought a religious exemption.

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