Back-to-School Immunizations
School starts soon and in order to attend, all students must be current on their immunizations. The requirements have changed so parents need to check and verify that their child is up-to-date on his/her immunizations.
For students entering kindergarten and first grade a second vaccine for chicken pox (varicella) will now be required. Also, for students entering seventh grade they now need a tetanus booster (T-dap). Lee County Health Department will have staff at the Back to School Blast at Edison Mall this Saturday to complete the required DH 680 form (the “blue card”) for those children who meet the immunization requirements. Parents are asked to bring the child’s immunization records when they come to the Mall.
Health Department staff will also have free varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for those children needing a second dose for school entry. Varicella is the only vaccine that will be administered at the Edison Mall event. Last school year Lee County schools experienced an extended outbreak of chickenpox over 70 children were infected. It is strongly recommended that all children receive two doses of varicella vaccine even those children in higher grades.
Children who need immunizations to complete the school entry requirement should visit their physician or the Lee County Health Department at 3920 Michigan Avenue, Fort Myers. Walk-ins are welcome at the health department from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Students who do not have the required immunizations will be sent home from public schools on the first day, August 23rd. In addition, they will not be able to ride the bus or participate in sports, band or other extracurricular activities until the school has the DH 680 form showing that the shots were received.
The 2010-11 Florida Immunization requirements for school attendance for
kindergarten and grades 1 through 6 are:
5 DTPs (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough) (DTaP) vaccine
4 Polio
2 MMRs (2 Measles, 2 Mumps and 2 Rubella)
3 Hepatitis B
1 Varicella (chicken pox) for Grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
2 Varicella (chicken pox) Kindergarten and Grade 1