Tennessee requires students to be immunized in order to participate in a public school.
White County Coordinated School Health Director Marcie Kinnard said with most classes starting around the Upper Cumberland, it is a good time to remind parents what is needed.
“If your child is entering kindergarten you need to have them up-to-date for kindergarten shots,” Kinnard said. “That includes having completed Hepatitis B, DTaP, Polio, MMR, Varicella and Hepatitis A series.”
Kinnard said seventh graders are also required a booster shot for Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis also known as Whooping Cough. Kinnard said students have until two weeks after school starts to turn in proof of immunization.
“We were not immune to Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis like we thought, so Whooping Cough was making its comeback, so they developed the Tdap,” Kinnard said. “It is a one-time deal for seventh graders. It just gives added immunity.”
Kinnard said parents can do this by visiting their primary care provider to get a immunization certificate. Kinnard said local health departments can also vaccinate and provide paperwork.
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