Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

March 20, 2008 issue


New Immunization Requirements for Kindergarten, Sixth Grade and College Students

Story by Kathleen McFadden

Here’s news your kids won’t want to hear: they need to get more shots.

The North Carolina Commission for Public Health has changed the rules regarding vaccination of school-aged children and college students that are effective with the 2008-09 school year. The new rules add requirements for a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis) vaccine and a second dose of mumps vaccine.

According to Appalachian District Health Department Director Danny Staley, public health researchers have seen a recurrence of pertussis—whopping cough—in adolescents and young adults, indicating that the immunity provided by the infant vaccine wanes over time. For that reason, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended a booster for sixth graders and college students.

Bundling the pertussis vaccine with boosters for tetanus and diptheria into a combination shot “aids in getting the vaccines to children,” Staley said, because they can receive one shot instead of three.

“For a number of years, we’ve encouraged a booster for tetanus every 10 years,” said, “and since the time was so close to the recommendation for a pertussis booster, the ACIP said ‘go ahead; it’s close enough.”

Tdap Booster

The new rule states that a booster dose of Tdap vaccine is required for the following individuals:

• All students attending public school who are entering the sixth grade on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since their last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.

• All students not attending public schools—private, home-school, nontraditional schools—who are 12 years of age on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since their last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.

• Individuals enrolling in college or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008, if they have not received a tetanus/diphtheria toxoid or tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine within the past 10 years.

Mumps Vaccine

Evidence also shows that the mumps vaccine immunity wanes over time. So the new rule requires individuals to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine before enrolling in school, college or university for the first time.

However, there’s a loophole on this one. Any child entering school prior to July 1, 2008 is not required to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine. Children were previously required to have only one dose of mumps vaccine. Most children already receive two doses of the MMR vaccine (measles-mumps-rubella) by age four. Therefore, this rule will primarily affect children who received single antigen doses of the vaccines.

Where To Get the Vaccines

Because these vaccinations are required, local physicians participating in the universal vaccine program—and Staley said many local doctors do participate—will provide the vaccines for free. Local doctors are, however, allowed to charge a small fee to administer the shot.

Vaccines are always free at the health department, and the clinic does not charge an administrative fee. No appointment is necessary to obtain a vaccine during clinic hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

For more info, call the Appalachian District Health Department at 828-264-6635.