Its back-to-school time, and vaccinations are a required part of the enrollment process. As the new school year is fast approaching that means parents will soon have to get their children registered, go back-to-school shopping and make sure their children are immunized before school starts.The minimum vaccine requirements for students in kindergarten through 12th grade are diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis, polio, measles/mumps/rubella, hepatitis B and varicella. Students in kindergarten through sixth grade must also get the hepatitis A vaccine, and students in grades seven through 12 must get a meningococcal vaccine.
The Texas Department of State Health Services says that all immunizations should be completed by the first day of school attendance. Students can be enrolled provisionally if their immunization records show they have received at least one dose of each specified age-appropriate vaccine.
What vaccinations does my child need for school?
By the time your child enters kindergarten, required vaccinations include:
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Polio
• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis)
• Chickenpox
• A yearly flu shot
The average 11- to 12-year-old should receive these immunizations before school:
• Tdap (a booster for tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV, done in three doses)
• Meningitis (MCV4)
• A yearly flu shot
• Any missing shots from the list above or not received as babies, such as Hepatitis A vaccine