PEA RIDGE — Tdap shots needed
The school year is half over and we are already making preparations for the next school year 2011/2012. It’s time to give parents of the Middle School a heads up on requirements health-wise before the next year begins. As some of you may already know, the immunization laws changed last year. Students going into theseventh grade for fall 2011 must have a Tdap shot.
This is a Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis (whooping cough). If your child has had a tetanus shot within the last two years, all they need is a Pertussis shot.
***
This is the Arkansas law.
Pea Ridge schools will be having a Tdap shot clinic at the Middle School on April 26 for all current sixthgrader students and anycurrent seventh-grader students who are still overdue on their shot. This will be held in the Middle School cafeteria from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or until finished. This will be the only immunization given.
If your student is in need of other vaccines, take them to the Benton County Health unit or to their primary care doctor. The school will send out letterswith information and consents for immunizations.
We will also send out district wide alerts prior to the clinic as a reminder. Get out your student’s most recent shot records and review them. Some students may have received a booster tetanus shot within the last couple of years for an injury. Anything over two years without a pertussis included will require a Tdap.
School, Pages 11 on 03/02/2011