Schools

What Shots Do Kids Need To Start School?

It's time for those required vaccinations for kids heading back to school.

NASHVILLE, TN -- School begins early next month for most students across Tennessee, which means it's time to make sure the kids' immunizations are up-to-date and squared away.

Every student between kindergarten and 12th grade must have proof of immunization and a Tennessee Immunization Record, typically provided by a primary-care physician.

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Children entering day care and pre-K must have the following vaccinations:

  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (one dose of each, given together as MMR)
  • Varicella, better known as chicken pox; one dose or credible history of disease
  • Haemophilus influenzae type B, for those 5 years or younger
  • Hepatitis B, which is usually completed in infancy
  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, for those younger than 5 years only
  • Hepatitis A – 1 dose, required by 18 months of age or older

Kindergarteners must have the following:

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  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)
  • Hepatitis B, usually completed in infancy
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (two doses of each, given together as MMR)
  • Poliomyelitis, with the final dose on or after the 4th birthday
  • Varicella, better known as chicken pox; two doses or history of disease
  • Hepatitis A (total of two doses, spaced at least 6 months apart)

Rising seventh-graders must have:

  • Tetanus-diptheria-pertusis booster (Tdap)
  • One dose of varicella (chicken pox) or credible history of disease if new to Tennessee schools

All new Tennessee students:

  • Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (two doses of each, given together as MMR)
  • Poliomyelitis, with the final dose on or after the 4th birthday
  • Varicella, better known as chicken pox; two doses or credible history of disease
  • Hepatitis B
  • New students entering grades other than 7th grade are not required to have Tdap

Full-time Tennessee college students must have proof of:

  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella: two doses of each, given together as MMR if born on or after January 1, 1957 only
  • Varicella, or chicken pox; two doses or a credible history of the disease if born on or after January 1, 1980.
  • Hepatitis B – only for health science students expected to have patient contact before patient contact begins
  • Meningococcal – At a minimum of one dose at 16 years of age or greater if enrolling in public institution for the first time and under 22 years of age and living on-campus housing; private institutions set their own requirements for this vaccine

A positive blood test is acceptable as an alternative for measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and chicken pox. For chicken pox, documentation from a health-care provider or if a provider verifies a credible history of chicken pox is acceptable.

The Metro Health Department offers children’s immunizations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. throughout the year on a walk-in basis at the East Health Center, 1015 East Trinity Lane; Lentz Health Center, 2500 Charlotte Ave.; and Woodbine Health Center, 224 Oriel Avenue.

The health department will be conducting special after-hours back-to-school vaccination clinics, as well.

At Lentz Public Health Center, the clinics will be July 24 and 31 and August 7 and 14 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the last sign-in at 5:30 p.m.

At Woodbine Public Health Clinic, the clinics will be July 26 and August 2, 9 and 16 between 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the last sign-in at 5:30 p.m.

Health officials suggest children with private insurance go to their primary care provider for their immunizations. The Health Department can provide the vaccine for a fee for those that have private insurance and cannot get in to see their primary care provider.

Image via Shutterstock


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