A back-to-school handbook on immunizations

You’re probably starting to shop for backpacks, notepads and pencils. Maybe you’ve taken a trip to the mall to pick out clothes and shoes for the new school year. But is your child prepared with the immunizations required for his or her grade level?

Kids often receive age-appropriate vaccinations during their annual checkups. Keeping up with the vaccinations required for school attendance, though, can be tricky since guidelines change occasionally.

Here’s a look at what’s required in Tennessee and Georgia schools. (Note: When entering a higher grade level, the doses listed aren’t in addition to the ones listed in the previous list. That’s the total amount required.)

Tennessee

Incoming kindergarteners need to have had:

• A complete regimen of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine (five doses)
• Two doses of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
• A complete regimen of polio vaccine (four doses)
• A complete regimen of hepatitis B vaccine (three doses)
• Two doses of hepatitis A vaccine
• Two doses of varicella vaccine (or a case of the chickenpox)

Incoming 7th graders need to have had:

• A Tdap booster (against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
• Two doses of varicella vaccine (or a case of the chickenpox)

Incoming college students need to have had:

• Two doses of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
• Hepatitis B vaccine, if training in health care
• Meningococcal vaccine, for certain schools
• Two doses of varicella vaccine (or a case of the chickenpox)

Georgia

All students in grades kindergarten through 12 need to have had:

• Four+ doses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine
• Two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella combined vaccine OR two doses of measles vaccine, two doses of mumps vaccine and one dose of rubella
• Four+ doses of polio vaccine
• Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine
• Two doses of hepatitis A vaccine
• Two doses of varicella vaccine (or a case of the chickenpox)

Incoming 7th graders need to have had:

• A Tdap booster (against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
• Meningococcal vaccine

Incoming college students need to have had:

• Two doses of measles, mumps, rubella combined vaccine OR two doses of measles vaccine, two doses of mumps vaccine and one dose of rubella
• Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine
• A Tdap booster (against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) within 10 years prior to enrollment
• Meningococcal vaccine, for certain schools
• Two doses of varicella vaccine (or a case of the chickenpox)

What the AAP says

Both states base their guidelines on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP, in conjunction with other national health organizations, offers a recommended immunization schedule for children and teens.

Not all vaccinations recommended by the AAP are required for school enrollment. The AAP, for example, also recommends an annual influenza (flu) vaccine and three doses of the human papillomavirus vaccine for those between ages 9 to 26.

Have you scheduled your child’s back-to-school checkup? Now’s the time. At that checkup, talk with your child’s pediatrician about what vaccinations he or she needs. Need a doctor? Find one here.