Back-to-School Immunizations…Beat the Rush!
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Summer is well under way, and now
is a good time to get your children immunized for
the upcoming school year. One of the most important
things parents can do to keep their children healthy – as
well as their friends and classmates – is
to make sure their children receive all of their
recommended vaccinations on time. As children get
older, protection from some of their childhood
vaccines can begin to wear off. Keep them healthy
by staying up to date with vaccines especially
recommended for their age group.
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Below is a list of the required
vaccines for students attending a Texas school during
the upcoming school year. Please be aware that students
without the required immunizations or a valid exemption
will not be allowed to attend school. |
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| Vaccine requirements for students
entering kindergarten through 12th grade: |
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3 to 5 doses* of diphtheria, tetanus
and pertussis (DTaP/DTP/DT/Td) |
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3 to 4 doses* of polio |
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2 doses* of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) |
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3 doses of hepatitis B |
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1 to 2 doses* of varicella |
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1 booster dose of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis
(Tdap) 10 years after the last dose of tetanus-diphtheria-containing
vaccine |
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Additional vaccine requirements
for students entering kindergarten, 1st grade, 7th grade, and
8th grade:
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2 doses of hepatitis A for students entering
K – 1st grade |
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2 doses of varicella for students entering K – 1st
and 7th – 8th grade |
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1 booster dose of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap)
for students entering 7th grade, if at least five years
have passed since the last dose of tetanus-diphtheria-containing
vaccine |
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1 dose of meningococcal for students entering 7th – 8th
grade |
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For an
easy way to keep track of your children’s immunization record,
register them with the Texas Immunization Registry (ImmTrac). ImmTrac
is
a secure and confidential registry that helps consolidate your child’s
immunization information from multiple providers to one centralized
system. Registration is simple. A parent or legal guardian needs
to sign a one-time written ImmTrac consent form at the child’s
next vaccination visit. Only authorized professionals can access
the child’s information and parents can request
their child’s
record anytime, at no cost. |
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Remember, beat the
back-to-school rush and get your child immunized today. Make an
appointment with your health care provider, visit a Harris
County Public Health and Environmental Services (HCPHES) public health
clinic or a Harris
County Hospital District (HCHD) community health
center. |
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In addition to these
HCPHES and HCHD facilities, Harris County Hospital District school-based
clinics will be offering free immunizations from 1p.m. to 3 p.m.
on Tuesdays from August 10 through August 31. Visit the facilities
and directions page on the HCHD website for the locations of school-based
clinics. The HCHD Troubleshooters Mobile Unit is also offering free
immunizations this summer for children two months to 18 years of
age. Click here to see when the mobile unit will be in your area. |
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For more information
on back-to-school immunizations, contact Harris County Public Health & Environmental
Services at 713-439-6000 or visit www.hcphes.org. You can also call
the Harris County Hospital District at 713-873-8687, or visit http://www.hchdonline.com. |
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Mosquito
Season in Full Swing…Fight the Bite! |
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Hot, wet
weather means more mosquitoes, and with more mosquitoes
comes an increased risk of West Nile Virus. Harris County
is home to 56 species of mosquitoes. While most are merely
pests, the Culex mosquito is the predominant species in
Harris County that carries West Nile Virus.
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Harris
County Public Health & Environmental Services encourages
people to eliminate mosquito breeding habitats from their
property and to take appropriate precautions to avoid being
bitten by disease-carrying mosquitoes. |
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| Mosquito-Proof Your Property |
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Don’t “feed” the
storm drains. Sweep up lawn clippings, leaves and tree
limbs. |
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Remove or empty any containers such
as flowerpots and toys, that can hold water. Change water
in birdbaths
at least once a week. |
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Keep rain gutters free of debris. |
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Make sure screens are in good condition. |
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Personal
Protection |
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If possible, wear long pants
and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors, particularly at
dawn and dusk. |
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When outdoors, use an insect repellent
containing DEET, Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or
IR3535 and
apply as directed on the label. |
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Most
people who are infected with West Nile virus show no, or only
mild, symptoms such as low-grade fever and headache. More severe
symptoms can include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation,
encephalitis, and, rarely, death. If you think you have been
infected with the West Nile Virus, contact your family physician.
Household pets can also be exposed to West Nile Virus. Contact
your veterinarian for more information. |
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Enjoy
the outdoors, but remember to protect yourself and your family
from mosquito-borne disease. |
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For
more information, visit www.hcphes.org or www.cdc.gov. |
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