Schools in Fresno County have begun their annual efforts to locate children who will be starting kindergarten this summer or fall and they will be telling them about a new immunization requirement to protect them against chickenpox. Effective July 1, 2001 all children entering a California school at kindergarten level (or first grade if kindergarten skipped) for the first time, must have documentation of one dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or physician documented history of the disease.
"Every child should be fully immunized at all times and must have some required vaccines before they start school," reminds Dr. Hadden, Fresno County Health Officer. "Prior to the start of the first year of school is an excellent time to make a doctors appointment for a physical examination and to receive an immunization update including the newly required chickenpox vaccine."
This new requirement applies to all children entering public or private schools as well as children in childcare. If a child has already had chickenpox (the disease), they will just need the doctor to indicate this on their Immunization Record (the yellow card) and that will meet the entry requirement.
Supervising Public Health Nurse David Luchini explains, "Parents often think of chickenpox as just a common childhood disease and an inconvenience, when actually it can lead to very serious complications. Before this vaccine was available, thousands of children were hospitalized every year and on average one child died nearly every week in the United States from complications due to chickenpox. This new requirement will save children from pain and suffering, plus it will reduce absenteeism from school and work."
Chickenpox is spread through the air as well as through contact with chickenpox blisters. Chickenpox can spread rapidly between children in the home and at school. The varicella vaccine is the best way to protect against chickenpox. Approximately 70-90% of people who receive the vaccine do not contract the disease.
California school immunization requirements for most kindergartners are a total of 5 DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) shots, 4 polio shots, 3 hepatitis B shots, 2 MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) shots, and 1 varicella shot. Children attending childcare must also meet immunization requirements for their age. For more information about immunization and school requirements, parents should contact their physician or the Fresno County Immunization Program at (559) 445-3550. |
