The Executive Commissioner on Health and Human Services approved several revisions to the “Immunization Requirements for Children and Students in Texas Public and Private Schools”. The changes to the requirement were made in order to update the Texas elementary and secondary school immunization requirements so that they adhere more closely to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

These changes include:

Hepatitis A Vaccine – Beginning August 1, 2009 all students entering kindergarten statewide will be required to have 2 doses of Hepatitis A vaccine.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine - Beginning August 1, 2009 all students en-tering kindergarten will be required to have 2 doses of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Varicella Vaccine - Beginning August 1, 2009 all students entering kindergarten and 7th grade will be required to have 2 doses of Varicella Vaccine. A written statement from a parent or guardian, school nurse, or physician attesting to a child’s positive his-tory of Varicella disease (chickenpox), or of a Varicella immunity, is acceptable in lieu of either dose of Varicella Vaccine.

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis-Containing Vaccine (Tdap) – Beginning August 1, 2009 all students entering the seventh grade will be required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in the seventh grade will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Students in grades 8-12 are required to have a booster dose of Tdap if it has been ten years since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exists.

Meningococcal Vaccine – Beginning August 1, 2009 all students entering seventh grade will be required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine.

Parents of Bandera ISD students and future students are encouraged to contact the campus nurse’s office if they have any questions. A complete list of vaccination requirements for the 2009-2010 school year are available in the Family Center at www.banderaisd.net.

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