Immunizations Needed Before Fall Enrollment
July 15, 2008
As parents and students make summer plans, remember to include scheduling medical checkups and catch-up immunizations. Based on Kansas Statute K.A.R. 28-1-20, all children must be current on immunizations when attending any Kansas school.
For NEW kindergarteners, this usually means one more round of vaccinations, which will include a fifth Dtap, a fourth IPV, a second MMR and a second varicella.
All children entering FIRST through Fifth grade, will be required to have documentation of having received THREE doses of Hepatitis B vaccine. All children entering First through Fifth grade are also required to have received a minimum of ONE doses of varicella (two doses are recommended), or have parent or doctor signed verification of having had varicella illness.
For students who are 14 or 15 years old, parents should check immunization records for a recent tetanus booster. All students are required to have a second tetanus shot at some time within 10 years of the school entry dose. Currently, booster tetanus doses are also recommended to include vaccination for pertussis (Tdap).
Parents of students whose school records show need for updated vaccinations will receive notification of that in the mail. Plan now to have those shots done BEFORE school starts in Aug. to avoid possible exclusion from school.
Please call the Health Dept. @ 785-863-2447 if you have questions about immunizations.
