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Parents reminded to keep children up to date on vaccines

Times-Tribune - 8/3/2018

Aug. 03--CORBIN -- Parents and caregivers can feel overwhelmed when it comes time to send their children to school for the first time. There can be hours of shopping for school supplies, school orientations, sports physicals and the dreaded recommended immunization shots.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH), within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), reminds parents and caregivers to make sure children and teens are up-to-date on their vaccines. The Commonwealth's vaccine requirements for school entry, which is modeled after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), include new requirements for Hepatitis A and Meningococcal vaccines.

"We encourage parents to contact their medical provider to review their child's immunization status to help ensure a smooth back-to-school transition for the upcoming year," said DPH Commissioner Dr. Jeffrey D. Howard."

Here is some information about the 2018 recommended immunizations and when your child is due to receive them.

Every child in the state of Kentucky is required to have a Hepatitis A vaccination, said Nursing Supervisor Tamara Phelps with the Whitley County Health Department.

Effective July 1, all school-aged children in kindergarten through 12th grade must show proof of having received two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine to attend school. A minimum interval of six months between the first and second doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine is required. If the child has not yet received the second dose of the Hepatitis A vaccine for this school year, the child's Certificate of Immunization Status will be considered "provisional" and will expire 14 days from the date the second dose is required.

The Whitley County Health Department has been giving that vaccination for many years. If a child had their immunizations at the Whitley County Health Department, it is likely they've had the Hepatitis A vaccination.

The earliest an infant can receive the Hepatitis A vaccination is 12 months.

"It really has nothing to do with this Hepatitis A outbreak that we're having right now," Phelps added. "When legislature passed this last year, they gave us a year to try to start getting kids vaccinated."

Students age 16 years or older must also show proof of having received two doses of Meningococcal ACWY vaccine (MenACWY). However, it is important to note that if the first dose of MenACWY was received at age 16 years or older, the second dose is not required for school entry. For children 16 and older, the Certificate of Immunization Status must show the dates the child received two doses of Hep A vaccine as well as the MenACWY vaccine.

In 2014, the United States experienced 667 reported cases of measles in 27 states, according to the CDC. That's the greatest number of cases since measles elimination was documented in the U.S. in 2000. From January 1 to June 16, 2018, 93 people from 19 states were reported to have measles.

While immunizations are greatly debated, they are something to be considered. Phelps noted the vaccinations have been studied for many years and proven to be safe.

"Unfortunately a lot of parents will look up stuff on the internet and you can find anything you want on the internet, good or bad," Phelps said. "A lot of people read the bad from a website that's not reputable."

Outbreaks of whooping cough can occur at middle and high schools as the protection from childhood vaccines fades. In 2016, there were 17,972 reported cases of whooping cough in the U.S., down from 2012's 57-year high of 48,277 cases per the CDC.

While it's hard to think about flu season in August, it's fast approaching. A flu shot is also something to consider for your child's safety. The CDC recommends a flu shot yearly after 6 months of age.

From 2017 to 2018 there was a high severity flu season with record breaking levels of influenza-like illness and hospitalization rates. The CDC reported 176 flu-related deaths in children through June 30. This set the record for the highest number of flu-related deaths in children reported during a single flu season. Approximately 80 percent of these deaths occurred in children who had not received a flu vaccination.

Phelps said when parents initially enroll a child in school, they submit an immunization record and school officials then keep track of when shots are due. Immunizations are required when a child initially enrolls in school, when a child turns 11/12 or around the sixth grade, and another shot at age 16, according to Phelps.

If a child is up to date, school entry immunizations include DTaP, IPV, MMR and Varicella, as well as the Hepatitis A and Meningoccal ACWY vaccines.

Other vaccinations are offered but not required such as the HPV vaccination that is offered at age 11 and 12.

The Hepatitis A and MenACWY vaccines are available through local healthcare providers, and covered as a no-cost preventive service by most health insurance plans. If your child does not have insurance, please contact your local health department for assistance.

Any child with a medical condition who is unable to receive the vaccines will be issued a medical exemption certificate by their healthcare provider. If a parent chooses not to immunize a child based on religious objections, the parent must complete a sworn and notarized Commonwealth of Kentucky Parent or Guardian's Declination on Religious Grounds to Required Immunizations. Immunization forms are available on the Kentucky Immunization Program and the Kentucky Department of Education websites.

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