Shortages forcing states to relax immunization rules

Some students with incomplete vaccines will be able to enroll this fall

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - At least four states are relaxing student immunization standards at the start of the school year because of lingering shortages in vaccines for many common childhood diseases.

The Centers for Disease Control notified doctors in a July 11 bulletin that shortages were over for two vaccines, one for measles, mumps and rubella and another for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

But parts of the country still lack sufficient supplies. New Jersey, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska are among the states that will allow students with incomplete immunizations to enroll in school this fall.

''Physicians and patients are going to have some catching up to do,'' said Buddy Ferguson, spokesman at Minnesota Department of Health.

The shortage for the MMR and DTP vaccines was caused by several factors, including a dwindling number of suppliers, manufacturing changes and equipment modifications that caused some production facilities to shut down longer than expected.

Indiana health officials last week pushed back a fall deadline, requiring students to be fully immunized by Jan. 31. Minnesota waived its tetanus/diptheria shot for junior high and high school students until next fall.

''Although they do have enough vaccine now, obviously they're going to go have to go back and immunize people who haven't had their booster,'' Ferguson said.

The New Jersey Health Department will allow students who aren't immunized to begin school as long as the child has a doctor's note indicating they are still trying to get the vaccine.

''If they can demonstrate a good faith effort and the physician is working with a family to get vaccine, we don't want to keep the child out of school,'' said assistant health commissioner James Blumenstock.

Children are supposed to get shots for measles-mumps-rubella at 12 to 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years. During the shortage, the CDC recommended postponing the second shot.

The DTP vaccine is usually given to children in five doses over their first 4 to 6 years. The CDC had suggested parents put off the fourth and fifth doses while supplies were low.