The Texas Department of State Health Services says changes to school immunization requirements for five vaccines take effect Aug. 1.
The department said Monday that the changes mostly affect those entering kindergarten and seventh grade. All immunizations must be completed by the first day of school.
The vaccines and new requirements are:
-- Hepatitis A vaccine: Students entering kindergarten must have had two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine.
-- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine: Students entering kindergarten must have had two doses of the MMR vaccine. Students in grades 1 through 12 must continue to meet the current requirement: two doses of a measles-containing vaccine and one dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine.
-- Varicella vaccine: Students entering kindergarten and seventh grade must have had two doses. Students in grades 1 though 6 and 8 through 12 must continue to meet the current requirement: one dose of varicella vaccine.
-- Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis-containing vaccine: Students entering seventh grade must have had one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in seventh grade must have had a booster dose of Tdap, but only if it has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Students in grades 8 through 12 must have had a booster dose of Tdap if it has been 10 years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine.
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-- Menigococcal vaccine: Students entering seventh grade must have had one dose.
On the Net:
A full list of immunization requirements effective Aug. 1 for the 2009-2010 school year is available at www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/docs/school/6-14eng.pdf.
