Wednesday, July 25, 2001

Getting your child ready for school

By CYNTHIA GRANT
Fayette County Health Department

We here at the Health Department hope that our fellow Fayette Countians are enjoying a wonderful, safe, and exciting summer vacation. Unfortunately, all summers must make way for fall at some point, and all too soon the school year approaches.

As you are most likely aware, there were some changes made by the State of Georgia in the immunization requirements for children entering school. Health Department staff realizes that these changes and the immunization program in general can be quite confusing especially for parents who are enrolling a child for the first time. Let us try to simplify.

Every child admitted for the first time to a public school operating in Georgia will need to bring with him/her a "Certificate of Eye, Ear, and Dental Examinations" (Form 3300). The child must undergo the exam and have the form signed by a physician, or by health department personnel.

Every child admitted to any school in Georgia must have a Form 3231 or "School Certificate of Immunization." The form can be filled in by the physician's office if your child received shots there, or the health department can complete it.

However, if a child has had shots at more than one facility or office, or if you would like health department personnel to fill out the form for you based on shot records from another facility, you must remember to bring all your child's shot records with you.

If you do not have records of the child's previous shots, but you know the name, address, and phone number of the physician; we can ask the office to fax the records to us so that they can be transcribed.

However, school officials will not be able to admit your child to a Georgia school unless the child has a School Certificate of Immunization which shows the appropriate number and types of vaccines; which have been given at the appropriate time intervals; and at the appropriate age.

Children entering kindergarten are required to have two doses of MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine, which were administered on or after their first birthday. In addition, Varicella (Chickenpox) immunization or proof (by verbal history given by the parent ) that the child has had the disease is required for school entrance.

Children born after January 1, 1992 are required to have three (3) doses of Hepatitis B vaccine at school entry. A child entering the Georgia school system for the first time at any age from 5 to 19 is required to have all of the above.

Any student who has not previously had two MMR vaccines, and has not received Varicella immunization (or given a history of having had chickenpox) must show proof of these before entering sixth grade.

If the child is currently attending a Georgia school and therefore already has a Georgia Certificate of Immunization on file at his/her school, then once the child receives the second MMR, and proof of Varicella disease or immunity is provided. This can be documented on a Supplemental Vaccine Certification Form (Form 3189). This form can be obtained from a physician's office or at the health department, and is a supplement to not a replacement for the Form 3231 or 3032 that the child already has on file.

If the child is entering the Georgia school system from out of state: all immunizations can be documented on a Form 3231. Out-of-state physician signatures are not accepted on Georgia Certificates of Immunization unless the physician is licensed to practice in the State of Georgia.

These are the major points of the Georgia School Immunization Program. Help make your back-to-school transition a smooth one by calling your physician or health department to insure that your child's shot record is up to date, and that you have the proper forms.

The 2001-2002 school year will begin Aug. 10, which is fast approaching. Since most offices, including the health department, are appointment-driven operations, planning ahead can help you avoid long waits and/or the possibility of not being able to get an appointment before school starts.

The Fayette County Health Department staff thanks you for your support in keeping the children in our community healthy. We wish you a wonderful and exciting 2001-2002 school year.