Protect children by immunizing them before school starts

Vancouver, WA — With school about to start, now is a good time to schedule children for a vaccine update. Vaccinations are important because they protect against serious and preventable illnesses, some of which have no cure or treatment. Vaccinations not only protect those receiving them, but the children around them as well, including younger siblings.

Vaccine requirements

§ Children starting kindergarten must get two doses of the chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine or provide proof (doctor’s note) they’ve had the disease. Children in the first grade and sixth grade must get one dose of chickenpox vaccine or provide proof they’ve had the disease. Children 19 months to kindergarten age who attend licensed child care or preschool must also be vaccinated against chickenpox.

§ Children entering sixth grade should be vaccinated with the Tdap vaccine if they are 11 or older and if it has been five years since they last received a tetanus vaccine. The Tdap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and Pertussis (whooping cough). Young children receive a vaccine that prevents these same diseases, but protection starts to wear off in the early teen years. If your child is starting sixth grade, ask your health care provider whether the Tdap vaccine is needed.

Vaccine recommendations

§ Parents should consider the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, available at low cost to girls under age 19 in Washington State. The vaccine protects against four types of HPV— two that cause 70 percent of cervical cancers and two that cause 90 percent of genital warts. This vaccine is not required for school admission.

§ Also recommended for children 11 to 18 is the meningococcal vaccine to prevent meningitis, a serious infectious disease.

Make an appointment now

Call your health care provider now to schedule an appointment. If you don't know where the immunization record is, Clark County Public Health suggests that parents and guardians check to see if their health care provider has access to the CHILD Profile Immunization Registry. Many providers use this registry to keep track of vaccinations given to children born in Washington.

The following clinics offer free or low-cost vaccinations for children and teens (remember to bring your child’s immunization record with you):

Sea Mar Community Health Center

7410 E. Delaware Lane, Vancouver, WA

(360) 896-5128

Sea Mar Clark County

1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA

(360) 852-9070

Free Clinic of SW Washington

4100 Plomondon St., Vancouver, WA

(360) 313-1390

Additionally, K-12 recommended vaccines will be provided during North County School Readiness Day on Saturday, Aug. 22, 1 to 7 p.m. at the Battle Ground High School cafeteria, 300 W. Main St., Battle Ground.

Influenza vaccinations

Seasonal influenza vaccine for children will soon be available. All children should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect against H1N1 influenza (swine flu).

Vaccine for H1N1 influenza is expected to be available sometime this fall. As it is distributed to state and local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will recommend making it available first to these priority groups:

§ Pregnant women

§ Health care workers and emergency medical responders

§ People caring for infants under 6 months of age

§ Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years

§ People aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

For more information on seasonal influenza, H1N1 influenza and vaccine recommendations, see www.flu.gov.