To protect children from contracting and spreading various contagious diseases, the Mississippi State Department of Health reminds parents to have their children immunized before school starts.
In Mississippi, it is required by law for students to be immunized against childhood diseases prior to entering public and private schools, Head Start or daycare, an MSDH release states.
Required vaccinations for children include: diphtheria tetanus and pertussis; polio; hepatitis B; measles, mumps and rubella and chickenpox. The MSDH release also states that children entering the seventh grade are required to receive the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccinations again.
“There are many options for where to get your vaccinations now, including private medical providers and retail stores,” MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said in a release. “Regardless of where you go, it’s incredibly important to make sure you’re up-to-date on your immunizations. Not only are certain vaccines required for school entry, they are also the best way to protect your child and those around them.”
To verify that a child is up-to-date with their vaccinations, parents must provide the school with a Certificate of Immunization Compliance from their immunization provider, according the release.
For those that have not yet received their back-to-school vaccinations, there is a 2-hour wait at the Pearl River County Health Department due to the amount of appointments they already scheduled, a PRC Health Department representative said, who declined to give her name. However, the best time of day to get these vaccinations range from 8 to 10 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. the representative said.
For more information on immunization requirements for school entry, contact the Pearl River County Health Department at 601-798-6212.