Immunization Check-Up
Are your Katy kid’s immunizations up-to-date and ready for the new school year?
If not, the summer months are the perfect time to take care of their immunization needs. Pull out their immunization cards and check them for what shots may be needed.
Any child who is in need of a vaccination and all children moving into the Texas from another state will need proof of current immunizations being given before being allowed to attend school in the fall. If a child is a little behind in receiving immunizations, that child will be allowed a 30 day grace period for immunizations that cannot be given all at once. For instance, if the child needs two doses of the polio vaccine, they can’t be given at the same time. But, if one has been given before the start of the school year, the 30-day grace period will be applied so that the child can receive the second missed dose without missing any school.
Children should, at the very least, have the following vaccinations before entering kindergarten: 2 doses of Hepatitis A; 2 doses of Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR); Vericella (Chicken Pox); and 4 doses of the Polio vaccine. Before entering the 7th grade, students need 1 dose of Vericella, 1 dose of the Meningococcal vaccine, Â and 1 dose of the Tetanus, Diptheria, and acelluar Pertussis-containing vaccine.
Check out the following two websites for more information about Immunizations for parents and for school and child-care requirements:Â
Texas Department of State Health Services
Public Information – for Parents & Consumers
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/public.shtm
Texas Department of State Health Services
School & Child-Care Facility Requirements
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/school/default.shtm
For charts showing current immunizations, the following website has printable versions in various sizes, available for color printers or in black-and-white versions:
2010 Immunization Schedules – Printable
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm#printable
