Immunizations reminder before school begins - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Immunizations reminder before school begins

Posted:
By Martha Boehm - email

MADISON (WKOW) – Public Health-Madison and Dane County is reminding parents to make sure their children's immunizations are up to date before they head back to school.

Public Health says Dane County is in the midst of a pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak. The greatest number of cases this year has been in school-age children. Public Health says the Tdap vaccine can help prevent whooping cough or lesson its severity.

The required vaccines are:

  • a tetanus/pertussis/diphtheria booster (Tdap) for grades 6-12, and
  • a second varicella dose for all but 5th and 11th grades this school year (The varicella vaccine protects against chickenpox)
  • all grades also require 4 doses of DTaP, 4 of polio, 2 of MMR and 3 of hepatitis B

Public Health leaders encourage parents to talk to their children's health care provider to be sure they have received all recommended immunizations.

Click here for more information on required and recommended vaccines.

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