JACKSON, MISS- The Mississippi Department of Health has urged parents to get their children scheduled for required immunizations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 95 percent of parents nationwide choose to vaccinate their child against potentially deadly diseases. In Mississippi, such vaccinations are required for a child to enroll in public school.
“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 that the best protection is having their child immunized on time.”
Required vaccinations for children entering school in Mississippi for the first time are:
- Diptheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTAP)
- Polio (IPV)
- Hepatitis B
- Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- varicella (chicken pox)
Children about to enter seventh grade are also required to have a TDAP (tetanus, diptheria, pertussis) vaccination.
While not required, the human pappilomavirus vaccine (HPV) and meningcoccal vaccine (MCV4) are recommended for children 11-15. A MCV4 is also suggested between the adolescent’s 16th and 18th birthdays.
In order for a child to enter school, the parents must provide the school with a Certificate of Immunization Compliance form from their local health department or doctor.
Those 18 and under qualify for the Vaccines for Children program, which sets each vaccine price to $10 each.
The MSDH will accept Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP and School Employee’s Health Insurance Plans as well as most private insurance plans to cover vaccines.
For more information on immunization requirements or medical exemptions for school entry, visit www.HealthyMS.com/immunizations.
