Immunizations

ALLEGHENY COUNTY NEW SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

The Allegheny County Health Department has informed all school districts located within the county that there will be new immunization regulations for the beginning of the 2008-09 school year.  These regulations will affect all students in grades K – 12.    Official documentation from your health care provider indicating your child’s immunization status must be submitted to the school nurse prior to the first day of school in August of 2008. 

Questions regarding fulfillment of these new requirements should be directed to your child’s physician or the Allegheny County Health Department.   Childhood immunizations are administered free of charge to children through 18 years of age at the Allegheny County Vaccination Clinic located at 3441 Forbes Avenue in Oakland.  Phone 412-578-8062 for hours of operation.  Forms requesting medical or moral/religious exemptions to the immunization law can be obtained from your school nurse. 

NEW REGULATIONS FOR 2008-09

ALL grades (K-12):

Grades 7 – 12 (in addition to the above vaccines):

*1 dose of meningitis vaccine (MCV4)

*+ 1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)

*many students currently lack official documentation of these immunizations

+Adolescents aged 11 – 18 who received Td, but not Tdap, should wait an interval of at least 5 years between TD and Tdap to reduce the risk for local and systemic reactions after Tdap vaccination. [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)]

Contact your private health care provider, the Allegheny County Health Department (412) 578-8060, or www.county.allegheny.pa.us/achd/ for further information.