Vaccines for Youth

January 25, 2012

This is the perfect time of the year to bring your child into either their physician’s office or the Licking County Health Department to get vaccines to meet school requirements for the coming year. The clinics aren’t crowded like they become in the late summer.

Whether it is kindergarten or 6th grade, school nurses across the state are required to look at each child’s record each fall to assure the children are protected according to state requirements. Any child age 4-6 years, may get his required vaccines for school and will then be able to provide the school with this information at kindergarten registration in the spring. For the 6th grade Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, acellular Pertussis) requirement, you may get the required vaccine anytime once your child turns 10 years of age and it will qualify for the 6th grade mandates. Several other vaccines are available for children in the 10-18 year age group. Meningococcal, HPV, Hepatitis A, and a second dose of Varicella (Chickenpox) are some of the other vaccines you may want to consider for your child’s protection.

If you have children going to college they should be vaccinated to protect against Meningococcal Meningitis. There is now a recommendation for a second dose of Meningococcal vaccine if the first dose was given prior to age 16.

The Licking County Health Department offers many walk-in clinics as well as Tuesday evening by appointment. When summer arrives, these appointment clinics fill up fast and parents scramble to get their children’s vaccines up to date before school starts. Physician offices are busy as well with sports physicals and back to school vaccine requirements, so planning ahead can save time and reduce stress.

 For additional information regarding vaccine clinics at the Licking County Health Department, please contact 740-349-6535 or visit www.lickingcohealth.org for clinic locations, dates, and times. Get your child vaccinated today and avoid the crowds this summer!

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