Changes in Immunization Requirements Affect 6000 Montgomery County Seventh Graders

The Montgomery County Health Department in conjunction with UTMB has issued the following press release regarding changes in immunization requirements for incoming seventh grade students.

Summer break has arrived, but so has the time for families to think about immunizations. If they don’t, they may face surprises when they try to enroll their kids in school.

In March 2009, the Department of State Health Services revised immunization requirements for students attending public and private schools in Texas. The new regulations make Texas requirements closer to the vaccine schedule recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Effective August 1, all incoming kindergarteners must have two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine, two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine and two doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Most children of this age who see physicians regularly should be current on these vaccines.

The most dramatic changes affect incoming seventh graders, who are not as likely to have received recent immunizations. Effective this year, all seventh graders must have two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, a tetanus-diptheria-pertussis (Tdap) vaccine and a meningitis vaccine. However, they do not need the varicella vaccine if they have had chickenpox disease, and they do not need the Tdap vaccine if they have had a tetanus shot within the past five years.

Health officials estimate that approximately 6,000 incoming seventh graders in Montgomery County are affected by the new rules. Nurses from all six school districts began sending flyers home with students several weeks before the school year ended.

Despite school nurses’ efforts, at least 80 percent of Montgomery County’s incoming seventh graders have yet to get the shots required for the new school year, said Emily Llinás, Public Health Preparedness Director at the Montgomery County Health Department.

“Schools have done a great job getting the word out, but people aren’t taking action,” Llinás said. “Some parents didn’t get the flyers the schools sent home. Others think their kids had the shots though they really haven’t. Some think they can’t afford to pay for vaccines, and many are just waiting until the last minute.”

Local healthcare organizations are working together to break down barriers to immunization. The University of Texas Medical Branch Clinic in Conroe provides immunizations on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. An immunization visit costs $10, regardless of the number of shots given.

Christus Community Health Ministries provides vaccinations at the Montgomery County Public Library in Conroe the last Tuesday of each month, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Care Van makes monthly immunization visits to New Caney. UTMB is also partnering with local school districts to offer vaccines to their students at school facilities.

The county´s most popular last-minute event is Shots Across Texas, a massive immunization campaign held the last Saturday before school starts. This year’s event is scheduled for August 22 at Peet Junior High School. Volunteers from UTMB Conroe, Conroe Independent School District and clinics, hospitals and organizations from throughout the county will provide free vaccines to hundreds of kids between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For more information about changes in immunization requirements, see the Texas Department of State Health Services immunization Web page, www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize. Parents can also call their school nurse for specific information.

To make an appointment at the UTMB Montgomery County Health Department, call 936-525-2800.

List of free or low cost immunization clinics in Montgomery County

2009-2010 Minimum vaccine requirements for students in grades K-12