School and Health Officials Urging Parents to Get Kids Vaccinated Before Classes Start

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HUMBOLDT COUNTY (KIEM) – Over the last few months, we’ve seen an increase in the measles nationwide. Fortunately, there have been no confirmed cases here in Humboldt County.

But last month, there were several cases of the pertussis cough.

School is back in session, which means heading back to the classrooms and hitting the books.

But it also means, getting kids vaccinated.

“Vaccinations are important for kids to be in school,” said Eureka City Schools Director of Student Services John Leonard.

“Certain grade levels, kindergarten and 7th grade it’s mandatory we’re checking, and if kids aren’t up-to-date they can actually be excluded from school.”

There are certain vaccines that schools require for their students.

“The vaccines that they need for school are the MMR, they also need a chicken pox vaccine, a D-Tap, and the Hepatitis B series,” says Rachel Allen, Immunization Coordinator for County Public Health.

According to the California Department of Public Health, Humboldt County has a handful of school that are flagged as vulnerable. Data released by the CDPH showed, in the 2017 – 2018 school year, 88.4% of kindergartners were vaccinated. But that number dipped in the 2018 – 2019 school year to 88.2%.

Health officials and schools are urging parents to make sure their kids are up-to-date on their latest vaccinations

“It’s a big push right now, the last few days before school to make sure everyone is ready,” said Leonard.

Around this time of the year is the best time to check.

“It’s a great reminder that you want to look carefully at your child’s vaccine record and make sure that they are up for their age so that they’re fully protected as best as you can do for them,”

It’s not only protection your child from harmful diseases, but also their peers.

“It’s a public health issue, and it can impact everybody, these are potentially very serious diseases,” said Leonard.

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