Summer time, and the livin’ is…easy? No, it’s…busy!!
Contrary to song lyrics of yesteryear, the summer season flies by and before anyone is ready for it to happen, it’s school time again. And what goes hand in hand with back to school? Everyone’s recurring favorite…immunizations!
Each year hundreds of children need immunizations in order to enter, or reenter, the public school system. Your county health department invites you to take advantage of the summer months to get your child’s shots administered before the traditional Back-to-School rush.
The State of Oklahoma requires the following immunizations for students attending kindergarten through tenth grade: five doses DTap, DTP, TD or Tdap; four doses IPV (polio); two doses MMR (measles/mumps/rubella); three doses Hep B; two doses Hep A and one varicella (chicken pox). Eleventh and twelfth graders’ may attend if they have received: five doses DTap, DTP, TD or Tdap; four doses IPV; two doses MMR; two or three doses Hep B and two doses Hep A.
Additionally, the following vaccines are recommended by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices: a second dose of varicella; a Tdap booster to protect against whooping cough; meningococcal conjugate vaccine for those 15 through 24 years of age and human papillomavirus vaccine, which is now recommended for boys as well as girls.
Don’t wait until the last minute! Look over your child’s shot record to see if they are missing required doses of vaccine. Then, call your primary care provider to schedule an appointment for Back-To-School immunizations. If you do not have an established provider, the Payne County Health Department offers immunization services on a walk-in basis Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8:30-11:00 a.m.; Monday and Tuesday 1:00-4:00 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday by appointment; call 918/225-3377 for more information. The health department is located at 1026 N. Linwood, Cushing.
***
