SACRAMENTO – With the start of a new school year occurring soon for most students, State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton today reminded all parents to make sure their children are fully immunized before classes begin.

"Immunizations are a safe and effective way to help keep our children and communities healthy and protected from serious vaccine-preventable diseases," Horton said. "Complications from these diseases can be devastating to children and their families. We can give kids a healthy start in life by vaccinating them to prevent potentially life-threatening diseases."

California schools are required to verify each child's immunization record to ensure that all required shots are completed. Schools will check records for required doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), polio, hepatitis B, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella (chickenpox). Most of these shots are given during the first two years of life. Boosters for DTaP, polio, varicella and MMR are usually given at 4 or 5 years of age.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that pre-teens and young adults get the following immunizations:

• The new tetanus booster (Tdap). This vaccine protects adolescents against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Whooping cough, which is highly contagious, can lead to a severe cough that can cause vomiting and broken ribs. Consequences include missed school days and complications, such as pneumonia. A Tdap booster shot will also help protect younger siblings and family or school contacts who may be at risk for more life-threatening complications if they contract the disease.

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). This vaccine protects against meningococcal disease, a serious illness that can infect the blood and areas surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is recommended for college freshmen who will be living in dorms, adolescents at high school entry who have not previously received MCV4 and other groups at high-risk for meningococcal disease.

• Chickenpox vaccine. A second dose of chickenpox vaccine is now recommended for all children who have not had this disease.

"Schools and child care providers do an excellent job working with families to ensure that youth are up to date on immunization requirements before they enter school," said Horton. "Their efforts in protecting our children have resulted in more than 90 percent of children in licensed child care facilities and kindergarten having all of their recommended immunizations."

For more information about school immunization requirements and vaccine-preventable diseases, parents should contact their child’s physician, school nurse or local health department’s immunization program. Local health departments also have information about low-cost or free immunizations for underinsured or uninsured children. As with all school immunization laws, California provides an exemption for medical reasons and personal beliefs. For more information, please log on to http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/dcdc/izgroup/pdf/imm488e.pdf

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