Preschool Immunizations

Posted by Carla Snuggs Aug 6, 2007

It’s just about back to school time!!! This is just a gentle reminder to make sure that your child’s immunizations are up to date. Immunizations make daycare and preschools a healthy place to learn and grow. Check with your preschool or daycare center and follow state requirements. In general, and in the state of California, preschool children must have:

• four doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine ( DTP)
• three doses of polio vaccine
• one dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine
• Hib flu vaccine
• three doses of hepatitis B vaccine
• one dose of varticella for chicken pox (or proof they've already had chicken pox and have immunity from chicken pox).

Vaccines do have side effects such as fever or soreness and or redness at the site of injection.However, the risks of minor side effects do not outweigh the vaccine’s ability to immunize children against horrible, preventable diseases. As an infant, I was exposed to and had measles, mumps, and chicken pox but in my lifetime, fortunately, I’ve never seen a case of devastating diseases such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis thanks to vaccines. In some cases exemptions are allowed for medical, religious or personal reasons. Be advised that those children who are not fully immunized may be barred from attending preschool or childcare if an outbreak of one of these diseases occurs. Immunize now to avoid that back to school rush. For more information on health related daycare issues see my article Controlling Illness in Daycare.