Under-immunized children are responsible for outbreaks of measles, chickenpox and pertussis (“whooping cough”) in the state this yeasr. Protect your children and those around them for this upcoming school year by making sure your children’s vaccinations are complete.

Besides increasing the risk of getting a disease, a child who is not fully immunized might be excluded from attending school or childcare during an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, possibly lasting weeks. A child with a vaccine-preventable illness can also infect others who do not have the option of vaccine protection, like those with a weakened immune system, pregnant women or infants too young to be completely protected by vaccines.

Some school grades have new vaccine requirements:

• Students entering sixth and seventh grade must receive the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. This vaccine is better than the tetanus booster (Td) because it also protects older kids against pertussis. Young children receive a vaccine (DTaP) that prevents the same diseases, but protection starts to wear-off in the early teen years. Reducing pertussis in teens and adults lowers the risk of pertussis in infants, for whom the disease can be life-threatening.

• Children beginning first, second, and sixth grades must get the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine or document that they have had the disease. Kindergarteners need two doses of the vaccine.

For the complete vaccination schedule, visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/school.htm.

Requirements or recommendations for college students vary by institution. Check directly with the colleges.

Be sure to check your child’s immunization record for any missing doses. If you want to vaccinate your children, you can use any of the following options:

• A regular health care provider

• Public Health immunization clinics www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/clinics.htm

• One of the special back-to-school immunization clinics in King County www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/ImmClinicsforBacktoSchool2008.pdf

For more information, call the Public Health Hotline at 206-296-4949 or visit www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/school.htm. Remember to bring your shot records to all clinics.

Parents or legal guardians have the right to choose not to immunize their children, based on medical, religious or philosophical reasons. Parents or legal guardians must sign the appropriate box on the Certificate of Immunization Status form to exempt their child from receiving vaccines required for school entry. There is a risk, however, when choosing against vaccination. In addition to the potential risk of becoming infected with a vaccine-preventable disease if exposed to the illness, a child who is not fully immunized may be excluded from attending school or childcare during an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease.