KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Today, during National Immunization Awareness Month, Public Health - Seattle & King County is calling on families in all of King County to get prepared for the new school year by making sure all children's immunizations are up to date.

"Immunizations are a very safe and effective way to keep children healthy and in school," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Whether you're a parent enrolling your child in school or a student entering college, you should be checking to see if your immunization records are up to date."

New school requirements for this fall

Hepatitis B vaccine is now required for students enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade; students entering kindergarten through third grade will be required to show proof of having received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, one dose of mumps-containing vaccine, and one dose of rubella-containing vaccine, usually given as part of the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine.

For information on special back-to-school immunization clinics in King County as well as Public Health immunization clinic sites, addresses and phone numbers, call the Public Health Hotline at (206) 296-4949 or visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/school.htm. Please remember to bring your shot records to all clinics.

Summary of school requirements

Kindergarten through third grade: Children enrolled in kindergarten through third grade in fall 2003 are required to have the appropriate series of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTaP, DTP, DT or Td) and polio vaccines, two doses of measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and a series of hepatitis B vaccines.

Fourth and fifth grade: Children enrolled in fourth and fifth grade are required to have the appropriate series of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTaP, DTP, DT or Td) and polio vaccines, one dose of measles/mumps/rubella vaccine (MMR), and a series of hepatitis B vaccines.

Sixth grade: Students entering sixth grade are required to have a second dose of measles-containing vaccine, preferably MMR, in addition to the requirements for earlier grade levels. They must also have a series of hepatitis B vaccines. A booster dose of tetanus/diphtheria (Td) vaccine is recommended for 11-17 year olds.

New students: All students who are new to the district are required to have a second dose of measles-containing vaccine, preferably MMR, in addition to the requirements for earlier grade levels.

During 2001 and 2002, seven different vaccines were in short supply, and some doses of vaccine may have been deferred. "Supply of all routine vaccines has returned back to normal so make sure you're not missing any doses," said Betsy Hubbard, Public Health's Immunization Coordinator.

Risks in not vaccinating

Parents or legal guardians have the right to choose not to immunize their children, based on medical, religious or philosophical reasons. Parents or legal guardians must sign the appropriate box on the Certificate of Immunization Status form to exempt their child from receiving vaccines required for school entry. There is a risk, however, when choosing against vaccination. In addition to the potential risk of becoming infected with a vaccine-preventable disease if exposed to the illness, a child who is not fully immunized may be excluded from attending school or childcare during an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease.

For more facts about vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine safety, the immune system and how vaccines work, read "Plain Talk about Childhood Immunizations," an internationally-recognized booklet for parents: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/childimmunity.htm