Legislator Abrahams: Our Kids Need Vaccinations as well as School Supplies
Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D- Hempstead) and the Nassau County Department of Health are reminding parents that updating their children’s vaccinations is crucial as they return to school. Immunizations are required by pre-kindergarten, primary, secondary schools, day cares, and nursery. “I urge all parents to make sure that there child’s vaccinations are up to date. Ensuring your child’s health as they return to school is the most important thing we can do to protect them in the months ahead.”
The child’s age determines which vaccination is appropriate for that child in order for them to be fully protected. The schedule below shows the New York State school immunization requirements that children must meet in order to be protected against diphther5ia, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type b, polio, pneumococcal disease and chickenpox.
| Vaccines | Pre-Kindergarten (Day Care, Nursery, Head Start, or Pre-K) |
School (K-12) |
|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria Toxoid-Containing Vaccine | 3 doses | 3 doses |
| Tetanus Toxoid-Containing Vaccine and Pertussis Vaccine (DTaP, DTP) | 3 doses if born on or after 1/1/2005 | 3 doses if born on or after 1/1/2005 |
| Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Booster (Tdap) | Not applicable | 1 dose if born on or after 1/1/94 and enrolling in 6th – 9th grade for the 2010-2011 school year |
| Polio (IPV or OPV) | 3 doses | 3 doses |
| Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) | 1 dose | 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine and 1 dose each of mumps and rubella (preferably as MMR) |
| Hepatitis B | 3 doses | 3 doses |
| Haemophilus Influenza type B (Hib) | 3 doses if less then 15 months of age or 1 dose administered on or after 15 months of age | Not applicable |
| Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) | 4 doses by 15 months of age if born on or after 1/1/08 (given at age appropriate times and intervals) | Not applicable |
