Aug 27, 2008 3:03 pm US/Eastern
Health: Back To School Vaccines
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Buying crayons, notebooks, even new clothes are all part of heading back to school. But going to the doctors should also be part of the plan. Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl has the details on what vaccines your kids will need before getting on the school bus.
Teeanna Harvey is getting a last minute shot before heading off to kindergarten.
"Everything we give prevents disease. And it prevents diseases that are very serious," said Dr. Gary Emmett, a pediatrician at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. This time of year he gets bombarded with kids coming in to get shots before school.
For five years olds, like Teeanna heading to kindergarten, they are required to get four booster shots which include one for Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis, which is whooping cough; another for polio; the third is MMR, for mumps, measles and rubella, and then the chicken pox vaccine.
"It's kind of a reminder shot for your immune system. So it sees that disease again and builds up immunity to it again," said Dr. John B. Tedeschi, a Virtua Health Pediatrician.
There are a few changes for middle schoolers in New Jersey this year. For 6th graders, it is now required, and recommended in Pennsylvania and Delaware, they get the T-dap vaccine, which prevents whooping cough and several other diseases, and the meningitis vaccine.
"It's a good vaccine. It's very safe. And it's done a real good job of lowering the rate of bacterial meningitis in adolescents and young adults," said Dr. Emmett.
Another shot to consider is the HPV vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer. It's not mandatory but recommended for girls between 11 and 13 years old.
"It seems to be a very good vaccine. I gave it to all three of my girls, and I believe in it strongly," said Dr. Emmett.
And new this year, if you live in New Jersey kids in pre-school and daycare must get flu and pneumococcal shots.
RELATED LINKS:
CDC Vaccine Recommendation Schedule-
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/PA Immunization Requirements-
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/NJ Immunization Changes-
http://www.nps.k12.nj.us/
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