Logan County Health Department officials say that making sure all children are vaccinated before they start kindergarten is always important, but recent outbreaks of measles and whooping cough in several other states remind us that vaccines create a shield of protection at school and home. No cases of measles have been reported in Oklahoma since 1997, but 514 cases have been reported in 20 other states this year including Texas, Kansas, and Missouri. Since measles is so contagious there is always a possibility it can return to Oklahoma if children are not vaccinated.
“Now is the time for parents to check vaccine records and schedule appointments to vaccinate babies and toddlers and children entering kindergarten, the 7th grade, or college,” said Logan County Health Department Administrator Jay Smith. “We are advising parents to schedule appointments with their health care provider now to skip the long lines that often form in clinics in August.”
Children attending child care must be up-to-date for their age with childhood vaccines. A schedule showing the required vaccines is available on the Oklahoma State Department of Health website at http://imm.health.ok.govby clicking on “Vaccines for Childcare.”
Children entering kindergarten are due for boosters or second doses of four vaccines:
· MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine)
· Polio
· DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines)
· Chickenpox (varicella) – (The 2nd dose of chickenpox vaccine is recommended, but not required by Oklahoma law.)
Children who recently moved to Oklahoma may also need hepatitis A vaccination. Hepatitis A vaccine, which is required for students in all grades in Oklahoma, is not required in some other states. Students need at least one dose of hepatitis A vaccine to start school. A second dose is due six to 18 months later.
Students in grades 7 through 10 are required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Older students are strongly encouraged to receive a dose of Tdap vaccine if they missed it. Tdap protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Adolescents and adults need Tdap vaccine so they won’t contract whooping cough and infect babies and toddlers who have not been immunized.
Parents and teens are strongly urged to talk to their health care provider about HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). The HPV vaccine prevents most of the types of this virus that cause cervical and other cancers. This vaccine has been extremely effective in reducing infections caused by the HPV types targeted by the vaccine. Also, the immune response to this vaccine is better in pre-teens, which can mean better protection for teens.
The MCV4 vaccine protects against the devastating effects of some of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease can cause death in less than 48 hours and leave those who survive with life-long problems such as brain damage or limb amputation. Even with the best treatment, about one in 10 people who get meningococcal disease will die from it.
HPV and MCV4 are recommended for all teens at 11 to 12 years of age with a booster of MCV4 at age 16. The meningococcal vaccine is required for first-time college students who will live in on-campus student housing. All college students are required to have MMR and hepatitis B vaccines.
“All of the vaccines required for school are available for children and teens, 18 years of age and younger, at the Logan County Health Department from 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. However, parents of children with private health insurance or SoonerCare health insurance are encouraged to take their children to their regular health care provider or clinic to receive these vaccines. The Kingfisher County Health Department hopes to have MCV4 and HPV available in the future for teens who have health insurance,” said Smith.
For more information about immunizations for children, call the Logan County Health Department at 405-282-3485 or contact your health care provider.
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