http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wesh/20010726/lo/868819_1.html

 

Thursday July 26 10:39 PM EDT

School Students Need A Shot In The Arm

School starts in Orange County on Aug. 13, and that means that even if you think your child has the all of the proper immunizations, you might want to check.

• Thinking About A Trip To Daytona Beach? • Live Super Doppler 2 Radar • Visiting? Click For Theme Park News • Auto Advice You Should Know

NewsChannel 2 medical reporter Dr. Todd Husty looked into what is new in immunizations this year and what your child's school needs to have on record before school starts.

Through Aug. 24, the Orange County health department is immunizing 5,000 children from pre-school through high school for free.

To keep your child from being turned away from school, he or she needs to have in his or her permanent record a Blue 680 form that includes an updated shot record from either the health department or a family physician. There is an important new change. For the first time, parents are required to show that their child either has had chickenpox or has had a vaccine for the condition.

"Every parent who has a child who is entering daycare, pre-k or kindergarten must show proof through the Blue 680 form that their child has either had the one-shot vaccination or that they've previously had the disease," Christina Keough of the Orange County health department said.

Children in the 7th grade are required to have a tetanus vaccination, but there is a national shortage of the vaccine because one manufacturer has stopped making it.

"However, the state has waived the requirement and allowed us to issue a one-year extension on the Blue 680 form," Keough said.

Exemptions from immunizations are only allowed for religious or medical reasons.

The chickenpox vaccine is the only a requirement for pre-school and kindergarten this year. Next year, the requirement will include 1st graders, and the year after that will include 2nd graders.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.