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Child immunization requirements change in
July
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April 16, 2011 |
Children in child care centers and those
entering kindergarten and seventh grade need
more immunizations starting now.
The Idaho Legislature approved four additional
immunizations for children receiving care in a
child care center: varicella (chicken pox);
Hepatitis A; Pneumococcal (Prevnar); and
Rotavirus. The immunizations were recommended in
the past. As of July, they are required.
Children registering for kindergarten will need
two varicella (or documentation from a health
care provider that they’ve had chicken pox) and
two Hepatitis A immunizations along with the
other required vaccinations.
Children entering the seventh grade will need
two additional immunizations: Tdap, a whooping
cough booster that contains vaccines against
tetanus and diphtheria; and one meningococcal
vaccine. The immunizations were recommended in
the past and are now required.
Students heading to college are now recommended
to have a meningococcal booster, if they were
previously vaccinated at a younger age.
Schedules of required immunizations for children
of all ages are available at
www.immunizeidaho.org. Exemption forms
are available for medical, religious and
personal reasons.
“Vaccinations are one of the single most
effective disease prevention measures in the
history of public health,” said Mareva Kammeyer,
who coordinates PHD’s immunization program.
Vaccinations are available at all Panhandle
Health District offices. The PHD office in St.
Maries will offer a special immunization clinic
Thursday, April 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. It
also provides immunizations on Mondays from 8:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays by appointment.
The office is located at 137 N. 8th St. Call
208-245-4556 for information.
The Sandpoint PHD office provides vaccinations
on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to noon
and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Sandpoint office
is located at 1020 Michigan. Call 208-263-5159
for an appointment.
The Hayden PHD office, 8500 N. Atlas Rd.,
provides immunizations Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to
4:15 p.m. and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Hayden PHD will
offer evening immunization clinics during the
summer in preparation for the new school year.
For appointments, call 208-415-5270.
Immunizations are available at the Kellogg PHD
office, 114 Riverside, on Mondays from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. and on Wednesdays by appointment. Call
208-786-7474.
Bonners Ferry PHD, 7402 Caribou, provides
immunizations by appointment. Call 208-267-5558.
Vaccines for Children, a federal program,
provides vaccines to Idaho. Families pay only
the costs for storage, equipment and nurses to
give the immunization. All children up to age 19
can participate in the Vaccines for Children
program.
For information on PHD’s immunization program,
visit
www.phd1.idaho.gov.
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