State health officials are encouraging parents to not wait until the last minute to start planning for back-to-school needs, especially their children's vaccinations.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), McDonald's, Fox/WB (Warner Brothers), the Oklahoma Caring Van, and local immunization coalitions are working together to launch a back-to-school immunization drive this summer, Pamela Williams, OSDH spokesman, said.
In its fifth year in Oklahoma, the "Immunize for Healthy Lives" campaign encourages parents to make certain they stay on schedule with their children's immunizations so they are fully immunized against dangerous childhood diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the OSDA stress that staying on schedule with childhood immunizations is the best defense against diseases such as whooping cough and measles, Williams said.
The campaign will include immunization field staff reminding parents about immunizations through telephone calls, written reminders and child care center visits.
Participating Oklahoma McDonald's restaurants will provide immunization information to their customers on tray liners and bag stuffers. During the campaign, McDonald's will ask those who come into their restaurants to pick up a flyer or placemat with the childhood immunization schedule and the locations of free immunization clinics. McDonald's will also provide Oklahoma's county health departments and "Vaccines for Children" providers with coupons good for a free reward for children who get immunized.
The Caring Van, sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, and Fox /WB will assist by setting up special immunization clinics to encourage parents to get their children immunized. The Caring Vans are based in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and can provide on-site immunizations at childcare centers, schools and other facilities across the state.
"Without immunizations, children may catch diseases that cause heart defects, mental retardation, and pneumonia. Immunizations can protect children against 14 dangerous diseases," said State Health Commissioner Michael Crutcher. "I hope all parents and caregivers will join us in our efforts to protect the health of children."
The following immunizations are required for children entering childcare or school.
Children entering childcare should be up-to-date for their age with:
*Hepatitis A vaccine, with the first dose on or after the first birthday, and the second dose 6 to 18 months later
*Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine by 19 months of age
*One dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine given on or after the first birthday, or a statement from the parent or doctor confirming the child had chickenpox disease
*One dose of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella vaccine) given on or after the first birthday
*DTaP at 2, 4, 6, and 12 - 18 months of age
*IPV (polio vaccine) at 2, 4, and 6 - 18 months of age
*Three to four doses of Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine (Hib) at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age
Children entering pre-school must be up-to-date for all of the vaccines required for childcare, except Hib. Hib vaccine is not required to attend pre-school.
*All children entering kindergarten through the 12th grade in Oklahoma are required to have:
*Two doses of MMR vaccine
*Two doses of hepatitis A vaccine
*Two or three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (Adolescents 11 through 15 years of age can receive a two-dose series)
*Five doses of DTaP/DTP (or four doses if the 4th dose was given on or after 4th birthday), except for students in the 11th and 12th grades who need only three doses
*Four doses of polio vaccine (or three doses if the third dose was given on or after the fourth birthday), except for students in the 11th and 12th grades who need only three doses
Children entering kindergarten through eighth grade must also have:
*One dose of varicella vaccine or a statement from the parent or doctor confirming the child had chickenpox disease.
The new Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) booster vaccine is also available for adolescents at all county health departments and from health care providers. It is strongly recommended for all adolescents, even though Oklahoma's school immunization law does not require it. This booster is especially important for those in contact with infants younger than 12 months of age.
College students who are first time enrollees and who will reside in on-campus student housing are required to have meningococcal vaccinations. All college students are also required to have MMR and hepatitis B vaccines. These requirements do not apply to students enrolling in courses delivered via the Internet or through distance learning in which the student is not required to attend class on campus.
For information about childhood immunizations, clinics scheduled in the area, or to find out about meningitis vaccinations for college students, call the county health department or health care provider.
