KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Immunization Requirements Changing

Immunization Requirements Changing

By Kara Sewell (WICHITA, Kan.)

Jayden Linnebur visits the Wichita Clinic before heading back to school.

"We have been extremely busy," says Dr. Elaine Harrington.

"They just want their papers signed and their child getting their shots because they want that first day of school to go smoothly and they don't want to have to turn around and go home again," says Dr. Harrington.

What's new this year? New booster shot requirements:

• Children under the age of five will need a Hepatitis A vaccine
  
• Children 11 and older need an additional Tetanus and Whooping Cough Booster

"If we can keep the older kids from having the whooping cough, that persistent cough that kids get, that they pass on to the little ones. maybe we can keep that from happening this year," says Dr. Harrington.

Dr. Harrington says the number of whooping cough cases is rising in schools. Janna Linnebur heard about the additional boosters from her schools nurse.

"If I had it to do over, I wish I hadn't got my younger two children the chicken pox shot just because they both broke out with them even though they had both gotten the shot," says Linnebur.

This year, parents like Janna won't have a choice.

• Kindergarteners will need two Chicken Pox vaccines and one dose for first through ninth graders

More vaccinations mean more cost but for people who qualify for medicaid or don't have insurance, even for those people who have insurance but it doesn't cover vaccines; the county offers a program that will help cover that cost.

Giving parents a little more assurance their kids will stay healthy.

http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/download/VFC_Brochure.pdf - this is state brochure about the VFC program

http://www.sedgwickcounty.org/healthdept/immunizations.asp -  County immunization site with highest cost one would expect to pay for immunizations (before sliding scale fee is applied)

Sedgwick County Mobile Clinic Days and Times:

Tuesdays

Goddard - 1st Tuesday of every month (9:30 to 11:30 a.m.)
Employee Wellness Facility
201 N. Walnut

Thursdays

Mulvane - 2nd Thursday of every month (1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
Mulvane First Baptist Church
1020 N. 2nd St.

Fridays

Derby - 3rd Friday of every month (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
Derby Educational Support Center
222 E. Madison