(Mason City) – With the 2013-2014 school year just around the corner, immunization officials with the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health encourage all parents and caregivers to review their child’s immunization records to make sure they are up-to-date.
“There are several convenient ways parents and caregivers can determine if their child is up-to-date on their immunization needs,” said Jennifer Stiles, Disease Prevention Specialist, Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health.
• Iowa Immunization Registry at https://iris.iowa.gov and click on the Public Information Record Access (parents will need the child’s name, date of birth and social security number or Medicaid number)
• Contact the child’s medical provider
• Contact the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health
Immunizations are a vital invention that has saved millions of lives over the years and prevented hundreds of millions of cases of disease. Getting your children immunized not only saves their lives, but it also protects their friends and classmates who may not be able to receive immunizations for medical reasons. For these children, their vaccinated classmates are their only protection against life-threatening illnesses and diseases.
“Preparing for a new school year is busy for both parents and students,” said Stiles. “We encourage parents and caregivers to take some time and review their child’s immunization records and contact their local health provider or the health department to schedule appointments to update their immunizations and boosters for a healthy school year.”
Students need the following immunizations:
Kindergarten:
o Varicella (chicken pox)
o DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, Pertussis)
o IPV (polio)
o MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
Middle and High School:
o Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, Pertussis)
o Meningococcal (meningitis)
o Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – recommended, but not required.
