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First Steps News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 2006
SCHOOL PREPAREDNESS TIP FOR PARENTS: REQUIRED
IMMUNIZATIONS
NO SHOTS, NO SCHOOL! South Carolina Law requires that
children receive the proper immunizations before they can be
admitted to a South Carolina public, private or parochial school.
Simply stated, that means, "no shots, no school!"
Children can be immunized through their doctors or clinics,
or through local Department of Health and Environmental Control
(DHEC) public health departments. Health care providers will
then supply a South Carolina Certificate of Immunization. This
certificate must be presented when registering a child for school.
Check with your doctor to ensure your child has received the
required doses of the following vaccines:
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis – This vaccine is most
commonly administered in the U.S. as DtaP. If your child
received this vaccine in another country, call the DHEC toll
free immunization line at 1-800-27-SHOTS to determine if
your child has met South Carolina immunization requirements;
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (German Measles) – Vaccines for
these diseases are commonly administered in the U.S. in one
vaccine called MMR. Check with your doctor to ensure your child
has received the proper doses;
- Varicella (Chicken Pox) – Children who have already had
chickenpox do not need to get the Varicella vaccine. History of
the disease must be recorded on the SC Certificate of
Immunization;
- Polio; and
- Hepatitis B
If there are religious, medical or other approved circumstances
preventing vaccinations, a child may be eligible for a
Certificate of Exemption. An exemption may be allowed for a
child who has not received all of the required vaccinations and
is now "catching up" by receiving doses in accordance with DHEC
recommendations. Most certificates of exemption are available
from doctors, clinics, and local DHEC departments. Call DHEC at
1-800-27-SHOTS with questions.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and
South Carolina DHEC
- For information in English or Spanish on specific vaccinations,
contact the CDC’s National Immunization Program at
www.cdc.gov
or toll free at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
- For more information on DHEC’s Immunization Program, call
1-800-27-SHOTS (1-800-277-4687).
- Local DHEC immunization departments:
www.scdhec.gov/health/disease/immunization/docs/contacts.pdf
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