Back to School Immunizations

West Coast PediatricsBack to School, Immunization

Babies are born with immune systems that can fight most germs, but there are some diseases they can’t fight. Vaccines have been created to strengthen your child’s immune system to prevent life-threatening diseases. Vaccines have been tested to ensure safety and effectiveness for children to receive at the recommended ages. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) make sure vaccines are very safe both before and after the public begins using the vaccine.

 

Florida requires certain vaccines to be administered for children enrolling in school or attending daycare. Here are the required immunizations:

 

Immunizations Required for Childcare and/or Family Daycare and Preschool Entry

  • Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP)
  • Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
  • Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
  • Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
  • Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13)
  • Hepatitis B (Hep B)

Public/Non-public Schools Kindergarten Through 12th Grade (Children entering, attending, or transferring to Florida schools)

  • Four or five doses of DTaP
  • Four or five doses of IPV
  • Two doses of MMR
  • Three doses of Hep B
  • One Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap)
  • Two doses of Varicella (kindergarten effective with 2008–2009 school year, then an additional grade is added each year thereafter). Varicella vaccine is not required if there is a history of varicella disease documented by the health care provider.

Additional Immunization Requirements for 7th Grade Entry

Effective with 2009–2010 school year (then an additional grade is added each year thereafter), in addition to compliance with all other immunization requirements, children entering, attending, or transferring to the seventh grade in Florida schools must complete the following:

  • One Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap)
  • Vaccines to prevent meningitis and the Human Papillomavirus  are highly recommended

West Coast Pediatrics

We feel very strongly that immunizations are safe, necessary, and in the best interest of your baby/child (with very rare exceptions). At each well-child visit, we will examine your child, review their history and recommend the immunizations that are appropriate and necessary. We require that any patient under our care receives the immunizations required by Florida schools in the recommended time frame. We are a Pro-Vaccine Pediatric Provider.

 

Covid 19 Vaccine Recommendation

The vaccine is available and approved for use in individuals over the age of 12 years old.

 

Call our office at 941-761-0663 to schedule a well-child visit and get your child’s back to school immunizations.

 

For more information about vaccines:

http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/default.htm

http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/safe/autism/overburdening.cfm

http://www.vaccineinformation.org