Immunizations are required for new children entering school

All children grades kindergarten through grade 12 who are entering school for the first time in the state are required to have certain immunizations.

They must show proof of immunization against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis B.

New students who attended out-of-state school previously must also get a tuberculosis test.

Kids not getting later shots

What they are finding is that children get the required shots at birth, but that they don’t get the rest of them until right before they start kindergarten, said Morgan County Health Department Administrator Lee Fowler.

Most parents keep up with the immunizations pretty well, but a small percentage doesn’t, Fowler said. Health Department nurses and clerical staff began going to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten registration so children could get the required shots right there, he said.

All of the required childhood immunizations are offered at the Health Depart-ment. Health Department nurse Angel Bloom advised residents to call for an appointment for their child.

Whooping cough epidemic

California has had 2,174 cases of whooping cough and seven infant deaths reported as of July 27. Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio have all had outbreaks, said Bloom.

A number of states have reported increases in the disease while others have recorded a decrease, Fowler said. The bulk of cases have occurred in California. The disease is bacterial and airborne, he noted. Antibiotics help prevent the initial spread of the disease.

Bloom said they haven’t had any cases of whooping cough in 2010 in Morgan County. Cases peak every three to five years.

Symptoms

Whooping cough begins with cold-like symptoms, a mild cough and maybe a runny nose at first, Bloom said. The cough progresses into violent and rapid coughing fits that can last from four to ten weeks.

The whooping sound comes from a sudden intake of air after patients try to breathe. The uncontrollable coughs are often followed by vomiting, Fowler said. Whooping cough can attack people of all ages, but is generally more severe in the young, he said.

Seek treatment if a child is having this kind of cough or see a doctor if there is trouble breathing, Bloom said. Both Bloom and Fowler encouraged parents to have their children immunized for the disease.

There is always a slight risk of someone having a reaction from any medication, Fowler said. However, the risk of complications of the actual diseases is much greater, he noted.

For more information
For more information about childhood immunizations or to make an appointment for your child, call the Health Department at 304-258-1513.
Mondays and Tuesdays are usually reserved for immunizations, but appointments can be made for anytime that a nurse will be available.