VIDEO from the CDC
JACKSON, Miss.–Back to school is just over a month away and the state health department says time to update your kids vaccinations.
If your kids are going to school for the first time, state law says they’ve got to have the DTaP, polio, hepatitis B, Measles, mumps and rubella and chickenpox. If the kids are going into 7th grade, they’ve also got to have a shot called Tdap.
If you’re worried that vaccinations may cause more problems than they help, the health department says most parents don’t think so. About 95 percent of parents nationwide choose to vaccinate their children, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
“Childhood vaccinations protect your child and those around them,” said MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Dobbs. “The back-to-school rush is our busiest immunization effort each year. It’s great to see children receiving required vaccinations and we remind parents the best protection is having their children immunized on time. By doing so they can avoid long lines during the back-to-school rush.”
Check with your physician or local county health department to see which vaccinations your child will need. Those 18 and under who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children program or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can receive vaccinations for $10 each.
The MSDH accepts Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP and the State and School Employees’ Health Insurance Plan (AHS).
