Health dept. reminds parents of new immunization rules

The Lincoln County Health Department is reminding parents that new immunization rules go into effect July 1, 2007.

The rules apply to all children attending child care centers and Pre- K, Head Start, and other school programs and those students entering the sixth grade. The new immunization standards are as follows:

..Children under five years of age must have protection against pneumococcal disease by taking the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). The number of doses depends on the child's age.

.. Children born on or after January 1, 2006, who attend child care facilities, Pre-K, and so forth, must have two doses of the hepatitis A (Hep A) vaccine or laboratory proof of immunity.

.. Children entering the sixth grade after July 1 will need two doses of the measles vaccine, two doses of the mumps vaccine, and one dose of the rubella vaccine or have laboratory proof of immunity against these diseases.

Sixth-graders will also need two doses of the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine or documentation that they have had the disease or laboratory proof of immunity. The second dose is needed because only one dose was required when these children started to school.

.. Four year olds, who are currently enrolled in a Pre-K program and who have a Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231) marked "Complete for School," may need to get second doses of the varicella and mumps vaccines. They must then submit documentation that they have met the new requirements to enroll in school.

The Certificates of Immunization have been revised to reflect the recent changes. The new form is currently available at doctors' offices and at the Lincoln County Health Department.

According to Dr. Stuart Brown, director of the Georgia Department of Human Resources' (DHR) Division of Public Health, "The new immunization requirements provide greater protection for Georgia's children against those diseases that can be prevented by vaccine. In essence, they help parents better protect their children's health."

The new immunization schedules were approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Anyone needing more information about the new immunization requirements may contact their health care provider, call the Lincoln County Health Department at 706-359-3154, or visit the United States Center for Disease Control's website at .