Immunization Requirements 2018-2019

Students in grades K-12 must have had their 2nd dose of MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine and the Hepatitis B series. 
The Varicella requirements are progressive by age, but are encouraged for all preteens and teens. 
Please see the Immunization Summary for School Attendance on the From the Nurse link.

Adolescent Vaccines - 
The Tdap booster and the Meningococcal (Meningitis-MCV4) vaccine is required for all 7th grade students.

Immunization follow up will be conducted by the building School Nurse. The parent and/or guardian will be contacted if the immunization record is incomplete. Please call the building nurse with any questions regarding vaccination and send all vaccine records to her attention. All students have a 14 day grace period, but will be excluded if the immunizations are not received in a timely manner.
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Take a look at your older children's immunizations. Ohio law requires Hepatitis B vaccine. Adolescents can acquire the disease through contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids in several ways, including tattooing and body piercing. The vaccine requires 3 doses and gives lifetime immunity.

Your teen may need a Tetanus update if the previous Tetanus (DTP, DTaP or DT upon entry to Kindergarten) is greater than 10 years. Adolescents 11 through 18 years of age should receive one booster of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis). 
Td should be used for later booster doses every ten years thereafter.

The Chickenpox vaccine is also available to teens who have not had the disease. Although chickenpox is usually mild in children, it can be serious for teens and adults. Any teen who has not had chickenpox disease and has not been vaccinated will need two doses. If your child is 13 years old or older, two Chickenpox vaccines given one month apart must be given in order to get adequate coverage.

Many colleges and universities in Ohio require Meningococcal vaccine for entry if your student will be living in campus housing. Your future college student will have to show proof of previous immunizations and may also need a Tetanus booster and a Mantoux Tuberculin Skin test. Graduating seniors may get a copy of their immunization record from the school nurse.

Immunizations may be received from your family doctor or the Pickaway County Health Department (477-9667 ext. 240). The cost is minimal and Medicaid is accepted.
If you would like a copy of your student's immunization record, you may request these through the school office.

IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTION FOR RELIGION, GOOD CAUSE OR MEDICAL
As required under the compulsory Immunization Law - Ohio Revised Code, Section 3313.671 Part 3: A pupil who presents a written statement of his parent or guardian in which the parent or guardian objects to the immunization for good cause, including religious convictions, is not required to be immunized.
Similarly, a pupil is exempt if he/she presents a physician's statement that immunization against a particular disease (or all diseases) "is medically contraindicated."
Contact the School Nurse for an Immunization Exemption form.

Facts about Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
The FDA has approved a combination vaccine for adolescents 11-18 years of age that provides booster immunization against Pertussis, as well as Tetanus and Diphtheria. 
The Tdap vaccine is given as a single dose. 
Pertussis is a highly communicable disease of the respiratory tract, causes spells of coughing and choking that make breathing difficult. The disease is generally less severe in adolescents than in infants and young children, but unimmunized older children can transmit it to younger ones.
The FDA points out that rates of Pertussis have been increasing in the last 20 years among infants and young children who have not received all their immunizations and in adolescents and adults.
For more information about availability of this vaccine (Boostrix or Adacel), consult your health care provider.

Facts about Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by bacteria. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2-18 years of age in the United States. Meningococcal bacteria can cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) or sepsis (an infection of the bloodstream). Symptoms of meningitis include stiff neck, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, confusion and drowsiness. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, shock and coma. Death from sepsis can occur within 12 hours of the beginning of the illness - meningococcal disease can be a rapid and overwhelming infectious disease. For these reasons, meningococcal infections that occur in childcare centers, elementary schools, high schools and colleges often cause panic in the community.
Although meningococcal disease is serious and potentially life threatening, up to 83% of the cases in adolescents and young adults are potentially vaccine preventable. The meningococcal vaccine, marketed as Menactra, has been demonstrated to be safe, and offers protection against 4 of the 5 most common strains of bacteria that cause the disease. Adolescents 11-18 years of age should be immunized. 
For more information, talk to your doctor.

Facts about Hepatitis B
Hepatitits B is a virus that affects the liver. It is one of several hepatitis diseases (for example A and C) that are caused by different viruses but are similar in that they all attack the liver. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause a short-term (acute) illness that leads to loss of appetite, stomach pain, tiredness, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin or eyes) and pain in muscles and joints.
These symptoms can last for several weeks. It can also cause a long-term (chronic) illness from which people never recover. A person might not look or feel sick, but he or she carries the hepatitis B virus in their blood for the rest of their lives and can infect other people with HBV.
Chronic hepatitis B may cause liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer and even death. About 1.25 million people in the United States have chronic HBV infection. Each year 80,000 more people, mostly young adults, get infected with HBV and 4000 to 5000 people die from chronic hepatitis B. 
Hepatitis B vaccine is available and can prevent infection with HBV.
The vaccine is safe and the risk of it causing serious harm is small.
Hepatitis B is serious and getting the vaccine is safer than getting the disease. For more information about the vaccine, consult your health care provider.

Facts about Hepatitis A vaccine
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease that can spread from person to person, or by consuming contaminated food or water.
Symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, and jaundice. Complications of the disease are inability to function or work after infection, hospitalization, relapses and rarely, death. The Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent this potentially serious disease.

Facts about Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) 
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States. Many people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and could clear the infection on their own. This virus may lead to certain types of cancer, most commonly cervical cancer in women.
HPV, marketed as Gardisil and Cervarix, is recommended in a 3-dose schedule with the second and third doses administered 2 and 6 months after the first dose.
Routine vaccination with HPV is recommended for females aged 11-12 years; 
the vaccination series can be started in females as young as age 9 years; and a catch-up vaccination is recommended for females aged 13 - 26 years who have not been vaccinated previously or who have not completed the full vaccine series.
Gardasil is also licensed, safe, and effective for males ages 9 through 26 years.
Boys and young men may choose to get this vaccine to prevent genital warts, and anal cancer.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
Influenza vaccine is recommended for healthy adolescents who want to reduce their risk of infection. The Center for Disease Control encourages annual seasonal flu vaccination for all children aged 6 months -18 years.
There are two types of vaccines:
• The Flu shot - an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus). The flu shot is approved for use in healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine - a vaccine with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. It is approved for use in healthy people 5 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

To get more information about Immunizations visit these web sites:
www.immunizationinfo.org
www.vaccinesafety.edu
www.partnersforimmunization.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
www.cdc.gov/vaccines