8-5-08

School Immunizations

Staying up-to-date on the recommended vaccines helps families protect their children from the most serious illnesses.

Vaccines offer effective protection from the major infectious diseases.  Because children are especially vulnerable to infection, most vaccines are given during the first five to six years of life.  Dr. Craig Batterman, assistant professor of pediatrics at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says children starting kindergarten are required to have specific vaccinations. 

SOUND BITE:  “. . . for kindergarten-age children from age 4 to 6, we typically do the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis vaccine, which is three components within one vaccine, the Polio vaccine, and the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine.  Those are the requirements.  And then the older age group, the 11-year-olds, are required to have TDP, which is Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis.  It is a variation of the one we give younger children.” 

Vaccines are responsible for the disappearance of several diseases including small pox, which was eradicated in 1980.  And vaccines have caused polio, measles and rubella to nearly disappear as a public health threat in the United States.   Dr. Batterman, who is also on the medical staff for St. John’s Children’s Hospital, says two additional vaccinations are now being recommended for adolescents.  

SOUND BITE: “Now we recommend one vaccine called Menactra, which is a vaccine against meningitis, a particular type of meningitis caused by a bacteria called neisseria meningitidis, and then we also recommend for adolescent women, the Gardasil vaccine which is vaccine against the Human papillomavirus.”

Dr. Batterman says vaccines are safe and urges parents to make sure their children get the required vaccinations at the scheduled times.  If they have questions about vaccines, they should talk to their primary care physician, pediatrician or local public health department. 

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.