Is your child fully immunized?
With a new school year beginning in just a few weeks, it’s time for parents to take a careful look to see whether their child’s immunization records are up to date.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ensuring children receive their vaccinations on time is “one of the most important things parents can do to ensure their children’s long-term health – as well as the health of friends, classmates and others in the community.” While some diseases treated by vaccines have become rare (a testament to vaccine effectiveness), outbreaks may still occur.
Dr. Mackey Quinlan is a board certi ed pediatrician at Pierremont Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“It is important that children continue to get vaccinated to protect them from many diseases that are now rarely seen, because as people are refusing to vaccinate their children we are seeing a resurgence of many of these diseases, including haemophilus in uenzae Type B (which is a bacteria that causes meningitis especially among infants and young children) and pertussis (whooping cough),” Quinlan said. By not vaccinating your children, you are putting them and others at risk for serious and life-threatening illnesses that could have been prevented.”
“Vaccination studies have shown that they are safe and provide protection against many dangerous and deadly diseases,” Quinlan said. “There are risks of side effects with any vaccination or other medication given but they are typically mild and easily treated. The most common side effects reported include pain at the injection site, fussiness of the child or lowgrade fever. These side effects are going to be present in the rst one to two days after vaccines are given with a few exceptions. They are usually easily treated by the appropriate doses of Tylenol or Motrin.
“The state of Louisiana requires students be up to date on their vaccines in order to attend public school,” said Quinlan. “This includes their infant immunization series given at 2 months old, 4 months old and 6 months old, their one-year-old immunizations given at 12 months old and 15 months old then a booster set of immunizations given at 4 years old and 11 years old.
“Once these vaccines have been given to the children, they are entered into the Louisiana Immunization Network for Kids Statewide web application and an of cial vaccination record can then be given to the parents. We recommend the parents keep a copy of their children’s vaccination record and also turn one into the school system. Children should have their vaccine record checked every year at their yearly well child visit.”
Sonja Bailes, Public Relations Liaison for the Bossier Parish School Board, provided the following immunization schedule for students of Bossier Parish Schools (Others may differ depending on state and school district.):
For students younger than 4 years:
• DTaP – (diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine) – four doses
• IPV/OPV – (polio vaccine) – three doses
• MMR – (measles/mumps/ rubella vaccine) – after the rst birthday
• HBV – (hepatitis B vaccine) – three doses: The second dose should be at least one month after the rst dose and the third dose at least four months after the rst dose.)
• Varicella – (chickenpox) – after the rst birthday
For students ages 4 to 11 years:
• DTaP – (diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine) – four or more doses, with the last one on or after the fourth birthday
• IPV/OPV – (polio vaccine) – three doses: last given one on or after the fourth birthday
• MMR – (measles/mumps/rubella vaccine) – two doses after the rst birthday
• HBV – (hepatitis B vaccine) – three doses: Second dose should be given at least one month after the rst dose and the third dose at least four months after the rst dose.
• Varicella – (chickenpox) – two doses after the rst birthday For students age 11 or older – all vaccines as required for those younger than age 11 and also:
• TdaP – (Adult tetanus/diphtheria/ pertussis vaccine) on or after the 11th birthday
• MCV4 – (meningococcal vaccine) on or after the 11th birthday Bailes said that parents/guardians must present a current State of Louisiana Universal Certi cate of Immunization when registering their children for school. However, according to the National Vaccine Information Center, it is possible to gain exemptions for medical, religious or philosophical reasons if exemptions are obtained in advance and upheld by the state health department.
Quinlan said, “Immunizations can be given at your pediatrician’s of ce, family practice doctor’s of ce, KID Med clinics, the LSU pediatric clinics and the Shots for Tots mobile van. Most insurance companies cover the cost of the vaccines as preventable health care, but if not, they can get them at no cost from the Shots for Tots van.”
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