As kids get ready to go back to school, parents and guardians in Hamilton County need to make sure their children have gotten all the shots they need to follow the state’s rules and school policies. Shots, or vaccines, are a powerful way to stop and control diseases that can hurt or even kill kids. So, it’s really important to know about the shots kids must get to keep them safe and to help everyone stay healthy. Back-to-School Vaccinations: What Are the Requirements? Read more below…
The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) makes specific rules about shots that kids must have if they go to public or private schools in the state, no matter how old or grade they are. The rules say that kids who go to school need certain shots to protect them from diseases like measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), hepatitis B, chickenpox, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP), polio, and meningitis.
When kids start kindergarten or if they’re new to the school, they need to show papers that prove they got two MMR shots, two chickenpox shots, five DTaP shots, four polio shots, and three or four hepatitis B shots, depending on the kind. Kids going into seventh grade should get the meningitis shot to be safe from that disease.
Getting shots is really important. They help keep kids safe from very serious diseases. These diseases can spread quickly in schools, especially if some kids don’t have the right shots. When parents and guardians follow the TDH rules about shots, they help their kids and classmates stay healthy and not get sick.
Shots in school-age kids also help stop sicknesses from spreading to the whole neighborhood. When a lot of kids get shots, it’s hard for diseases to spread. Shots create a kind of group protection, so even kids who can’t get shots – like those who are too young or sick – can stay safer.
But be careful about what you hear online or from some people. There are wrong ideas about shots going around. It’s really important to listen to doctors and nurses who know a lot about health. Look up good information and ask lots of questions before you decide about shots.
Getting shots is a big part of taking care of kids’ health. Making sure kids get the right shots makes school safe for everyone – students, teachers, and the whole community. Parents and guardians have to make sure their kids get the shots they need to keep them healthy and to help others stay healthy, too. Scientists know that shots work well and are safe. Choosing to get shots is one of the most important things parents and guardians can do to keep their kids safe, healthy, and ready for school.
If you need a doctor for your kids, please visit THIS link to find a provider.
Dr. Jeffery Bennett – Specializes in General Pediatrics
