By Robby Robertson Staff Writer

Changes to school immunization requirements for five vaccines take effect August 1, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services officials.

“The changes were made to update the Texas elementary and secondary school immunization requirements to more closely match recommendations by U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,” Jack Sims, DSHS immunization branch manager, said.

The changes mainly effect students entering kindergarten and seventh grade. Kelli McGlaun, who works as the nurse at Athens Middle School, said it will be a whole different thing than what parents have been used to in the past.

“I am getting ready to send out a letter to all the parents who have students entering the seventh grade,” McGlaun said. “Students going from sixth to seventh grade now have to have two doses of the Vericella vaccine. This is different from what they have had to do in the past.”

McGlaun said students also have to have the Meningococcal vaccine. This helps to prevent Bacterial Meningitis. The Vericella vaccine helps to prevent Chicken Pox.

“You would be surprised how many kids still get Chicken Pox these days,” McGlaun said. “This will really help to keep it down and (help keep) students from missing school.”

All immunization must be completed by the first day of school. “It’s not hard during the summer,” McGlaun said. “Parents can take their kids to the public health clinic (708 E. Corsicana) and pay very little the first four Wednesdays of the month.”

McGlaun also said if parents miss that, there will be a shot clinic on August 15 at the high school and another one August 21 at the middle school, both from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The following are all the requirements for vaccinations:

• Hepatitis A vaccine — Students entering Kindergarten must have two doses.

• Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine — Students entering Kindergarten must have two doses. Students in grades 1-12 must continue to meet the state requirements, which is two doses of a measles-containing vaccine and one dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine.

• Vericella vaccine — Students entering kindergarten and seventh grade must have had two doses. Students in grades 1-6 and 8-12 must continue to meet the state requirements.

•Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular peryussis-containing vaccine — Students entering seventh grade must have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in seventh grade must have had a booster dose of Tdap, but only if it has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus vaccine. Students in grades 8-12 must have had a booster dose of Tdap if it has been 10 years since their last dose.

• Meningococcal vaccine — Students entering seventh grade must have one dose.

“A student may be enrolled provisionally if they have had at least one dose of the required vaccine,” McGlaun said. “To remain enrolled they have to get them all taken care of as quickly as medically possible.”

For more information, call the school or go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/does/school/6-14eng.pdf