KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Now is the time to keep children from kindergarten to high school safe this upcoming school year by making sure all immunizations are up to date.

"Immunizations are a very safe and effective way to keep children healthy and performing at their best and to prevent dangerous diseases in our community," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Besides increasing the risk of getting a disease, a child who is not fully immunized may be excluded from attending school or childcare during an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, possibly lasting weeks. An infected child can also spread an illness to others, like those with a weakened immune system, pregnant women or infants.

New school requirements

Some school grades have new vaccine requirements this fall.

• Sixth graders who are 11 years of age and older and have not been vaccinated against tetanus in the last five years should receive the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.
• Children entering kindergarten, first and sixth grade will need to get their varicella vaccine for chickenpox or document that they have had the disease.
• Three doses of hepatitis B are now required for children entering kindergarten through 10th grade.
• Two doses each of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) are required for children entering kindergarten through 12th grade.

State law requires children to have specific immunizations before they attend school. For a complete list of required school immunizations, visit Public Health’s Back to School Immunizations web pages: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/school.htm.

Where to get immunizations

Regular health care providers provide childhood immunizations. For information on special back-to-school immunization clinics in King County as well as Public Health immunization clinic sites, addresses and phone numbers, visit the Back to School Immunizations web pages or call the Public Health Communicable Disease Information Line at 206-296-4949. Public Health centers provide childhood vaccines on a sliding fee scale. No child is turned away without receiving the required vaccines due to an inability to pay.

Parents should check immunization records to confirm that immunizations are up to date. Parents are requested to bring immunization records with them to the doctor’s office.

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 significant risk, however, when choosing against vaccination. If exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease, a child may become infected or may be excluded from attending school or childcare during the outbreak.

Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day.

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