April Deadline For Pa. Students' Immunizations Fast Approaching
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - New immunization laws went into effect last August and the deadline for Pennsylvania children to receive these vaccines is April 30th. If your child doesn't have these shots, they will be suspended and not permitted to attend school.
Montgomery County Health Department's immunization coordinator Kalyn Roberts explains the new requirements: "For children entering 7th grade, they are now required to have one dose of the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine, also known as TDAP. And they are also required to have one dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine."
"For all grades, they are required to have one more dose of chicken pox. They also need to have two doses of the mumps vaccine. The hepatitis B vaccine is now required for all grades."
Roberts says if parents in the county do not have health insurance, they can call the Health Department at the numbers below, but she advises not to wait until the last minute.
"Health care professionals may be inundated and vaccine hard to come by."
To make an appointment, call one of these numbers:
HealthCare Center in Norristown: 610-2758-5145
HealthCare Center in Pottstown: 610-970-5040
HealthCare Center in Willow Grove: 215-784-5415
Or, visit the Montgomery County Health Department's website.
