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2/ accessHealthnews.net Summer/Fall 2014 Protect Their Health Get them immunized before school starts A new school year will be here soon. Parents and guardians registering children for school need to make sure children are up to date on their immunizations. Missouri law requires that children in kindergarten through 12th grade receive immunizations to protect against certain vaccine-preventable diseases. This helps protect everyone - children, teachers, staff and the community as a whole. A child's immunization record must be presented at school. State regulation specifies that an individual cannot attend until all required immunizations are current. Children attending kindergarten through 12th grade are required to have the following immunizations or boosters: ● DTaP – Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; or DT – Diphtheria and tetanus. ● Tdap – Pertussis (8th – 12th grade). ● IPV – Polio. ● Hepatitis B. ● MMR – Measles, mumps, rubella. ● Varicella – Chickenpox. Getting your child immunized can be easy and inexpensive. For families with health insurance, all vaccines are usually covered. Children age 18 and younger may be eligible to get vaccines free through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program if they are Medicaid eligible, do not have health insurance, are underinsured or are an American Indian or Alaskan Native. Doctors can charge a fee to give the vaccine. However, VFC program funded vaccines cannot be denied to an eligible child if the family cannot afford the fee. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Back to School tools and resources are Heidi Koger Proofreader Jennifer Foster Freelance Writer Marjorie Langas Graphic Support Randy Leiker IT Support Tempest Wright Teen Health Writer Photography Tonia Wright Publisher, Editor-in-Chief We want to hear from you! Let us know how we are doing on Facebook, Twitter @accessHealth1 or write: accessHealth News c/o Grace Advertising 325 Broadway Lexington, MO 64067 accessHealth is published by Grace Advertising & Consulting, Inc. 325 Broadway Lexington, MO 64067 accessHealthnews.net is the online arm of this print publication. A special thank you to HCF for underwriting the following ads: Community Health Foundation For the Children Foundation Lafayette County Children's Services Fund COVERSA HCFGKC.org available to help remind parents/guardians to get children immunized before school starts. These tools and resources include a kindergarten ready award, sticker and poster, as well as a bookmark, reminder postcards (both hardcopy and ecards), fact sheets, tip card and information on the Vaccines for Children program. They are available at no cost and can be ordered at health.mo.gov/immunizations or by calling 800.219.3224. Missouri Department of Health and Human Services