LEONARDTOWN, MD (Feb. 11, 2014) – New immunization requirements in Maryland will impact many school-aged children in St. Mary’s County. Proof of complete primary immunizations against certain childhood communicable diseases is required for all students in preschool through the 12th grade. Children who have not received the required immunizations can be excluded from school enrollment.
“Students in the public school system are required by law to fulfill the new immunizations requirements before they start the 2014-2015 school year in August,” said Melanie Gardiner, BSN, RN, the director who oversees the health department’s immunizations and clinical services. “Since it can take several weeks or months to get appointments with health care providers, the health department is urging parents and guardians to start planning now.”
For students entering kindergarten and 7th grade, the new immunization regulations require the following:
- Proof of a second dose of varicella (chicken pox) vaccination is required for students entering kindergarten.
- Proof of Tdap vaccination, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough), is required for students entering 7th grade.
- Proof of one dose of MCV4 (meningitis) vaccination, is required for students entering 7th grade.
The St. Mary’s County Health Department recommends that parents or guardians review their child’s immunization records and consult with their family physician to ensure their child has received all required immunizations prior to school entry next year.
Regulation vaccination requirement details are available at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website: http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/OIDEOR/IMMUN.
To learn more about recommended immunization schedules for all ages, visit the Center for Disease Control’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules.