Vaccinations Needed Before the Start of School

Remember: "No Shot, No School."

The was enacted earlier this year in order to ensure all students through grade 12 receive vaccinations against whooping cough (also known as pertussis or Tdap), a disease that killed 10 and sickened nearly 10,000 in 2010. to read more about pertussis vaccinations.

However, at the end of July 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 614, which gives educational agencies 30 extra days after classes start to begin verifying the pertussis vaccinations among students, according to the Contra Costa Times.

"So with this 30-day extension, we will not deny any students to attend the first day of school, despite not having a Tdap vaccination," said Ed Diolazo, director of special services for the . "But we really don't now what will happen after those 30 days."

Despite the extension, SLUSD officials don't want students and parents to wait till the last minute. But officials do hope to work with the county on possibly providing a few more free health clinics for students to get the shots they need.

"It's our goal to adhere to the laws and make sure students provide their vaccinations [proof] to the school district," Diolazo said. "Even with the 30-day extension, our goal is to be 100 percent compliant by the first day of school."

In partnership with the Alameda County Public Health Department, SLUSD held two free clinics earlier this summer. Another will be held on Aug. 22 at the .

But while school districts statewide now require all K-12 students to receive pertussis vaccinations, it is not the only immunization students are required to have.

So what are all those shots your kids need before school starts on Aug. 23?

Patch is here to break down the required immunizations for children under 18, as provided by SLUSD.

Vaccine

Required Doses

Polio

• Four doses at any age

Diphteria, Tetanus and Pertussis

• Children 6 and under: Five doses at any age
• Age 7 or older: Four doses at any age
• Grade 7 or higher: One dose

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

• Kindergarten: Two doses on or after first birthday
• Grade 7: Two doses on or after first birthday
• Grades 1-6 and 8-12: One dose must be on or after first birthday

Hepatitis B

• Kindergarten: Three doses at any age
• Grade 7: Three doses at any age

Varicella

• Kindergarten: One dose
• Out of state entrants (Grades 1-12): One dose for children under 13 years; two doses if immunized on or after 13th birthday.

Free pertussis and other immunizations are given at the following locations:

Ashland Free Medical Clinic San Lorenzo High School Health Center, Room S5, Ashland Ave., San Lorenzo. Call 510-407-2362 for more information.

• Pediatric clinic, Wednesdays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. General clinic, Saturdays, 8:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.

, 15510 Usher St., San Lorenzo. Call 510-317-4600 for more information.

• Aug. 22, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Your individual health care provider can also adminster needed vaccinations.

For more information, click here to visit the school district website.