Schools: Rising 6th Graders Must Meet Immunization Requirement

All students in Virginia must receive a booster dose of Tdap vaccine prior to entering 6th grade, if at least five years have passed since the last dose of toxoid-containing vaccine (DTP, DTaP, DT, or Td), according to Fairfax County Public Schools and Alexandria City Public Schools.

Tdap vaccine is recommended for preteens at ages 11 or 12 years for protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Protection provided by the DTaP vaccine received in childhood wears off as kids get older, so preteens and teens need a booster shot known as Tdap, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Getting this booster not only protects preteens and teens, but also the people around them—especially little babies and elders, according to the CDC. 

Rising 6th graders in Fairfax County and the City of Alexandria cannot be assigned a teacher and cannot start school in the fall (Sept. 4), without documentation of having had the Tdap booster or having had a tetanus-containing vaccine within the past five years, according to the school systems.

Here's what you need to know:

•If your child is 11 years old, he/she should get the Tdap immunization and provide the documentation to the school as soon as possible.
• If your child is still 10 years old, he/she may receive the Tdap vaccine approved for 10 year olds or wait until the 11th birthday to receive the vaccine approved for 11 year olds.
•If the 11th birthday is after the first day of school, your child must have a medical exemption from the doctor stating when he/she will receive the Tdap.

The Tdap booster may be obtained from your child’s physician or at the Fairfax County Health Department at no charge. Students receiving immunizations at the Health Department must be accompanied by an adult and must bring their immunization records to the Health Department.

Clinic locations are available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/hdclinicsite.htm. Alexandria medical services can be found here.