Beaufort County Health Department

 

 

 

New 6th Grade Immunization Requirements

New Immunization Requirement for 6th Grade Entry

A new immunization is now required for 6th grade entry, beginning with the 2008-09 school year. 

The new rule states that a booster dose of Tdap vaccine is required for all children before entering 6th grade that are enrolled in public school, or by age 12 for those not attending public schools (i.e., private, religious, home schools) on or after August 1, 2008, if 5 years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine. 

Tdap is a combination vaccine that provides protection against three disease:  tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (commonly called whooping cough).  Please contact your health care provider or local health department to ask about getting this vaccine.  There is no cost for the Tdap vaccine, although your health care provider may charge an administration fee to give the vaccine. 

Your child will need to bring proof of vaccination to the school on the first day of 6th grade.  Acceptable proof of vaccination is a copy of the child's Certificate of Immunization.  You will have 30 days from the first day of attendance to present the required up-to-date immunization record for your child.  If proof of vaccination is not provided by the end of the 30 calendar day period the child will be suspended from school until he/she provides proof of immunization.

Do not delay!  Make sure your child is ready and up-to-date on his/her immunization prior to the start of the 6th grade school year.
 

For more information, visit www.immunizenc.com or, please contact:

Linda Gagliano, RN
(252) 946-1902
or by e-mail at linda.gagliano@bchd.net

For safety and security reasons, only clients receiving services will be allowed to go into the clinic area.  Children will be seen one at a time.  Therefore, clients must bring someone of an appropriate age and maturity to help so their children will be supervised at all times.