PARENTS:
ARE VACCINES ON YOUR
LIST OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES? |
| The Allegheny
County Health Department reminds parents to make
sure their children have all the vaccinations required
by state law for the upcoming school year. |
|
| Students
in kindergarten through 12th grade must be up to
date with vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella,
diphtheria, tetanus and polio. |
|
| In addition,
children in kindergarten, first grade and seventh
grade must be vaccinated against hepatitis B as well
as chicken pox or must have a history of chicken
pox. |
|
| "Parents
should check their children's immunization records
to see what, if any, doses of vaccine are needed
and get them before the new school year starts in
late August or early September," said County
Health Director Dr. Bruce W. Dixon. |
|
| Health officials
also strongly recommend meningococcal vaccine for
college students, especially those who live in a
dormitory or other type of shared housing. |
|
| The vaccine,
which prevents a sometimes deadly form of meningitis,
is required when students live on campus in Pennsylvania,
unless they sign and file a waiver with their college. |
|
Required vaccines for children in kindergarten
through 12th grade are available free of charge
at the Health Department's vaccination clinic,
3441 Forbes Avenue, Oakland. The clinic charges
$95 for the meningococcal vaccine.
|
|
| The clinic
is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Wednesdays, from 1 to
8 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Please bring
your child's immunization records to the clinics. |
