PLACERVILLE . INFO

The El Dorado County Public Health Department will be offering low-cost back to school immunization clinics in Placerville at the end of July and in August. According to Cathy Dunbar, El Dorado County Immunization Coordinator, California School Immunization Law requires that children be up-to-date on their shots to attend school. “Diseases like pertussis and mumps have been more prevalent over the last few years, so children need to be protected before they enter school,” said Dunbar.

The Public Health Department’s low-cost back to school immunization clinics will be offered at 931 Spring Street in Placerville by appointment on July 27, August 3, August 10 and August 17 from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment in the Placerville office call (530) 621-6100. A parent or legal guardian must be present for all immunization appointments, and parents are advised to bring the child’s yellow immunization card.

According to Dunbar, immunizations first became a requirement for California school entry in 1977. Polio, DTaP, MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella (chickenpox) as well as Hib (for Pre-school) are currently the vaccines that are required for school. Parents need to present documentation to the school showing the month, day and year that their child received their immunizations.

“While California school immunization laws allow for medical and personal belief exemptions, high immunization rates keep our children protected against many deadly diseases that can be devastating to children and their families,” said Dunbar.

Adolescents and college students should be vaccinated also. Parents should make sure their adolescents and young adult children heading off to college are up-to-date on MMR, and Hep B vaccines. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that preteens and adolescents get the following immunizations:

• Tdap which provides protection against pertussis (whooping cough) along with tetanus and diphtheria. Whooping cough which is highly contagious, can lead to a severe cough that can cause vomiting and broken ribs. Tdap can also help protect close contacts (e.g. infants) that may be at risk for more serious complications from the disease.
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) protects against invasive meningococcal disease, a rare, but potentially fatal bacterial infection that can cause meningitis (severe swelling of the brain and spinal cord) or meningococcemia (a serious blood infection).
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for preteen and adolescent girls to prevent cervical cancer in adulthood. HPV vaccine is most effective when given before girls become sexually active.

“Parents often wait to schedule their immunization appointments, only to find that there are no appointments available,” said Dunbar. “Many local schools start in mid-August so now is a good time to call the child’s health care provider or the Public Health Department for an appointment.”

Additional information about school immunization requirements for children can be accessed at the California Department of Health Services web site: www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/dcdc/izgroup.