Sept. 01--With the first day of school comes supplies to buy and car pools to coordinate.
Also on the to-do list: Vaccinations, the immunizations to prevent such diseases as measles, varicella (chickenpox) and pertussis (whooping cough).
If not immunized by mid-February, students won't be allowed into classrooms until they get their shots. But while our minds are on schools now, here are the top things you need to know about vaccinations.
Who needs immunizations? Children who attend public or private schools, preschools, child care facilities or Head Start programs are required by Oregon law to get vaccinated. Students entering school for the first time this fall must have records of having at least one dose of every required vaccine. Starting Feb. 16, children who have incomplete immunization records will be excluded from school. Check with your schools to make sure required vaccines are recorded.
Opt out: Families can file for medical exemptions for one or more vaccines. The exemptions are subject to approval by the local health department. Parents also can sign up for exemptions to immunizations on religious grounds. The definition of religion is broad in Oregon and also covers a person's "beliefs, practices or ethical values." While everyone has the right to an exemption, state public health officials say it is a family's responsibility to protect the spread of communicable diseases to others. State officials say students who are not immunized could contract diseases or be excluded from school during a serious outbreak.
What vaccines are required? Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, Hib (haemophilus influenzae type B). To see the complete dosage requirements, visit the Oregon Immunization Program website.
What are the new requirements this school year? The hepatitis A vaccine is now required for kids up to second grade. The Hib vaccine, which had been in short supply, is now more widely available and required for kids younger than 5 in child care, day care or Head Start programs. The Tdap vaccine to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis is extended to ninth graders.
What if my child is behind on vaccinations? Families can refer to catch-up vaccination schedules, which can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
What if the vaccines are too costly? State law says children can't be turned away from the local health department because of inability to pay for vaccines. Families who are insured can call their providers for more information. In many cases, clinics will base fees on a sliding scale.
Is swine flu still a threat? In August, the World Health Organization declared the end of the H1N1 pandemic globally but cautioned that the virus would continue seasonally. The flu vaccine that will be administered this year includes a strain of the H1N1 virus. The CDC recommendations have not changed: Children older than 6 months should be vaccinated; those younger than 10 who have not received the vaccine should get two shots.
Do males need the HPV vaccine? In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration licensed the human papillomavirus vaccine for males 9 to 26 to reduce the likelihood of genital warts. The vaccine was already licensed for females 9 to 26 to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus, according to the CDC. In Oregon, the vaccine for boys is not required. However, it is recommended for girls ages 9 to 26.
Source: Oregon Department of Human Services, Multnomah Education Service District, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization
-- Melissa Navas
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