COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) -
Next week will mark the last
full week of summer vacation for students in the Midlands, but before kids go
back to school, health officials want to make sure they go back to the doctor.
Officials
with the Department of Health and Environmental Control are reminding
families that children of all ages are not allowed to go back to school without
having all of their shots up to date.
Health
officials say it may seem as if many of the required vaccines are for diseases
that are less prevalent like measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox, but they emphasize that the diseases are still out there.
"The
diseases may be less and less common because of the success of the vaccination
campaigns, but they're still out there," said Dr. Linda Bell, director of clinical services for DHEC. "Unless we get coverage of the majority of the
children, we always run the risk of disease outbreaks and there are a variety
of diseases."
Bell says a list of all the required vaccinations
for each age group is given to the school, local doctors, and parents.
"We give the parents the information, but we
don't necessarily expect them to remember all of it," said Bell. "But the
providers, all of the pediatricians, and all of the physicians in the state get
a letter that details the school entry requirements. So when [parents] take
their child to the doctor's office, the physician will explain to the parents
which vaccines are required depending on their child's age for school entry.
While many of the vaccines on the list have
been required for years, DHEC officials are trying to spread the word now about
a vaccine that will be required next year.
"For entry to the seventh grade, they will be
required to have the Pertussis containing vaccine and that will be a
significant effort for preventing Pertussis or whooping cough in school
settings," said Dr. Bell.
Officials with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention say that in 2010, there were 21,000 cases of
whooping cough reported in the U.S. There were also 26 deaths, mostly in
infants who cannot get the vaccine.
Officials say while it's not a requirement
this year, they are encouraging adolescents to get the shot now because
whooping cough is most commonly spread to small infants from adults or
adolescents who have not received the vaccine.
DHEC
has the full list of the required shots on their website
and officials say the required vaccinations in South Carolina follows the CDC's
recommended immunization schedule.
Copyright 2012 WIS. All rights reserved.
