Published: July 10, 2008 02:31 pm            

Required immunizations for Georgia school children should begin in infancy

Submitted by the North Georgia Health District



To better protect Georgia’s children against many diseases, school vaccine requirements in Georgia were expanded last year.

The Georgia Department of Human Resources Board approved the additions following the recommendations of several physician advisory committees. The new rules took effect July 1, 2007, and affect all children attending child care, pre-k, Head Start and school facilities.

It is important to note that children should begin to receive vaccinations as infants so they can be protected during the preschool years. Protecting a child from disease may be the most important thing a parent can do for their child’s health. Immunizations help keep children safe from diseases that once struck routinely.

Vaccines have done a great job getting rid of these diseases or making them very rare, so most Georgia parents have never known the fears of earlier generations. Before vaccines, almost every parent could expect his or her child to get some of the illnesses that we can now guard against with properly administered immunizations. Hundreds — sometimes thousands — of people died each year from them. Today, vaccines protect most Georgia children from these deadly illnesses.

Georgia law requires all children entering school to show proof of having received the following regimen of vaccinations:

• 4 Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)

• 3 Hepatitis B

• 3 Polio

• 2 Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

• 2 Chicken Pox (or Varicella)

Immunizations required for day care and pre-kindergarten children are (number of required doses is based on child’s age — please see link to chart below):

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

• Pneumococcal (PCV)

• Hepatitis A

The immunization form needed for a child to attend day care or school in Georgia is called “Georgia Department of Human Resources Certificate of Immunization, Form 3231.” The child’s immunization record must be reviewed by a Georgia doctor or health clinic to get the certificate.

For a chart of all the recommended vaccines for children, visit http://www.gachd.org/documents/2007%20AdolChild%20Sched.pdf. For a chart of the required vaccines for child care and school attendance, visit http://www.gachd.org/documents/Summ3231%20REQ.pdf.

If you have questions about the new requirements, see http://www.gachd.org/documents/ImmunizationRulesFAQ.pdf. You may also contact your county health department or your child’s health care provider. Be sure to retain a copy of your child’s immunizations from your doctor or health department in case of an emergency.

The phone number for the Whitfield County Health Department is (706) 226-2621. The phone number for the Murray County Health Department is (706) 695-4585.

        

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