Immunization - Blue Ridge HealthCare

Get Those Shots Up To Date
Don't wait until the last minute to get your child immunized

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Measles / Mumps / Rubella - (MMR) Vaccine

Burke County - The first day of school is less than a month away. In addition to back-to-school shopping for clothes and supplies, parents should remember to check their children’s vaccination records.

“Parents who wait until the last minute may find they can’t get an appointment with their pediatrician,” said Susan Murray, RN, supervisor of the School Nurse Program, partially funded by Blue Ridge HealthCare. “Students may be suspended until their shots are up-to-date. Parents need to know this is state policy that all schools in North Carolina are required to follow.”

Murray said students who are not caught up on vaccinations may start school on the first day (Aug. 25), but parents have 30 calendar days to get their children caught up on their shots or at least be in the process of getting the shots.

“We can work with them in between vaccinations,” she said, “Just as long as they are in the process of getting the shots.”

According to the N.C. Health and Human Services web site (www.immunizenc.org/ChildCares.htm#reqmts), children entering public schools must have the following vaccination:

DTAP (diptheria, tetnus and pertussis): Five doses. Three doses by age seven months and two booster doses, one dose between 12 and 19 months of age and the second dose on or after the fourth birthday and before enrolling in school (K-1) for the first time. If the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday, the fifth dose is not required. A child who has reached age seven years without having been immunized against pertussis is not required to be immunized with pertussis vaccine.

Polio: Four doses. Two doses by age five months, a third dose by 19 months of age and a booster dose on or after the fourth birthday and before enrolling in school (K-1) for the first time. If the third dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday, the fourth dose is not required.

Measles: Two doses. One dose on or after 12 months of age and before 16 months of age and a second dose before enrolling in school (K-1) for the first time. As long as the doses are separated by at least 30 days, the second dose may be given at any time before beginning school. A person who has been diagnosed prior to January 1, 1994, by a physician as having measles or an individual who has documented laboratory results of a protective antibody titer against measles is not required to receive vaccine. Lacking such proof, vaccination is required.

Mumps: One dose on or after 12 months of age and before 16 months of age. A physician's diagnosis is not acceptable for mumps disease(s). The person must be immunized or have documented laboratory results of a protective antibody titer against the specific disease.

Rubella: One dose on or after 12 months of age and before 16 months of age. A physician's diagnosis is not acceptable for rubella disease(s). The person must be immunized or have documented laboratory results of a protective antibody titer against the specific disease.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): Four doses. Three doses of HBOC or two doses of PRP-OMP by age seven months and a final dose of any type on or after age 12 months and by age 16 months. Person who receive the first dose of Hib on or after 12 months of age and before 15 months of age are required to have only two doses with one dose being after 15 months of age. Persons who received the first dose of Hib vaccine on or after 15 months of age are required to have only one dose. Persons who have passed their fifth birthday are not required to be vaccinated against Hib.

Hepatitis B: Three doses. One dose by age three months, second dose by age five months and a third dose by age 19 months. Persons born on or after July 1, 1994, are required to receive the hepatitis B vaccine. The third dose of hepatitis B vaccine, if given on or after May 17, 2002, must not be given before the child is six months of age.

Varicella (chickenpox): One dose. One dose of varicella vaccine - on or after 12 months of age and before age 19 months - is required for children born on or after April 1, 2001. However, an individual with laboratory tests showing immunity or a history of chickenpox documented by a health care provider, parent, guardian or person in loco parentis shall not be required to receive varicella vaccine. Documentation of prior history of chickenpox disease must be on or attached to the lifetime immunization card or certificate of immunization. Ask your health care provider for more information.

Murray said most children are caught up on vaccinations, especially those who have been in day care, but it’s part of the school nurse’s job to make sure children are up-to-date.

“If they aren’t immunized, it leaves them open to infection if we have an outbreak,” Murray said. “It also can cause them to spread infection to other children who may not be fully immunized.”

Murray said there are exemptions to the vaccination rule – those who have a religious objection and those who have had a severe reaction to a vaccine. The exemptions must be documented by either the parent or the child’s doctor, depending on the type of exemption.

The Centers for Disease Control says vaccines are among the safest medicines available. Some common side effects are soreness at the site of injection or low fever. As with any medicine, there is a small risk that adverse events could occur after getting a vaccine. However, the potential risks associated with the diseases that these vaccines prevent are much greater than the potential risks associated with the vaccines themselves.

The Burke County Health Department provides free school-age immunizations with vaccines provided by the state, said Rebecca McLeod, assistant health director.

Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and during a clinic open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.

“Parents are pretty good at keeping up with vaccinations,” McLeod said, “especially if they have been taking their children to a doctor’s office for checkups.”

But from now through the end of September, McLeod said the health department will see a flurry of parents bringing their school-aged children in for shots.

“It fluctuates,” she said. “A lot of parents don’t know we have the clinic open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays so working parents have time to bring in their children.”

To make an appointment, call 439-4400.