Last summer the State experienced vaccine shortages due to the new immunization requirements and parents experienced extremely long waiting times in the clinic.  Please share this with family and friends who have school aged children!  Thanks.

GREGG COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

ENCOURAGES EARLY VACCINATION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN

AVOID THE BACK TO SCHOOL RUSH!!

Last year the Texas Department of State Health Services implemented new vaccination requirements of five (5) vaccines for students in kindergarten and seventh grade.  The new requirements are being phased in over several years.

For the 3010-2011 school year, the requirements also will apply to first and eighth-graders who did not receive the required vaccines in kindergarten or seventh grade.

Children are required to be fully immunized before the first day of school.

Following are the new vaccination requirements announced last year.  For a complete list of all vaccine requirements, go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/school/default.shtm .

• Before attending the first day of school, kindergarteners and first-graders need to have had: two varicella or chickenpox vaccines, two hepatitis A vaccines, and two MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccines.