Dallas County, Texas Health Department Schedules Another Free Immunization Clinic

The Dallas County Health Department will be holding another free vaccination clinic on August 5. The clinic will be held during the Dallas mayor's Back to School Fair at Fair Park in the Centennial Building. Having your child immunized now should be at the top of every parents' back-to-school list. Hey, it won't even cost you anything if you attend this free clinic.

Now Is the Time to Have Your Child Vaccinated:
Students were allowed to start classes last year without a vaccination record due to a shortage of vaccines; however, parents should not expect this to be the case this year. Students who have not been vaccinated or are behind of their vaccinations will not be allowed to start school this year.

"We will not be asking for an extension or waiver. We feel there is enough vaccine throughout the state and of course here in Dallas," Thompson told WFAA in Dallas.

Letters have been mailed to parents reminding them to get their children vaccinated prior to the first day of classes, August 24.

Required Immunizations for Kindergartners:
Polio - Four doses, one of which would have to be administered by the child's fourth birthday, OR three doses if administered on or after the child's fourth birthday.

Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DTaP) - Five doses of the DtaP are required, one must have been received on or after the child's fourth birthday unless the fourth dose was administered on or after their fourth birthday, in which case the child would be required to have only four doses.

Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) - For children entering kindergarten through the second grade in 2011, two doses of the MMR vaccine are required with the first dose received on or after their first birthday.

Hepatitis B - Three doses of the Hep B vaccine are required by the time your child enters kindergarten.

Varicella - Two doses of the varicella vaccine are required on or after your child's first birthday.

Hepatitis A - Two doses are required with the first vaccine having been received on or after the first birthday.

More information about vaccinations required for first time students can be found at the Immunize Texas website or you may call the Dallas County Health and Human Services office at (214) 819-2000.

Sources:
Personal Experience - I'm a parent
Immunization Branch, School & Child-Care Facility Requirements - Texas Department of State Health Services
Free clinic offered back-to-school vaccinations; next clinic August 5 | wfaa.com | Health