Hepatitis B vaccines required for seventh graders

Sevier County school mandate current health records Schools in Sevier County have distributed memos to parents of sixth graders requesting that all children have proof of the hepatitis B vaccination. The state health department mandates that upon entering the seventh grade, all students must be vaccinated against the disease or have record of it. Mike Helton, special projects coordinator for the school district advises that this is the fourth year the state has required this. In 1999, it was necessary for parents to inoculate their preschoolers with this vaccine prior to starting kindergarten. “This requirement is for those children who may have been missed earlier or who have transferred to the area and were not aware of the state’s vaccination requirements,” replied Helton. The notification is done in the fall or winter of the sixth grade, as this vaccination is a lengthy process. The immunization consists of three injections, each with a pre-determined amount of time between them. “The students are urged to start the procedure as soon as possible,” responded Helton, “However, we will allow them to enter the seventh grade as long as they have started the series.” Last year, out of 950 students in the system, only two were not vaccinated due to medical or personal reasons. “It is the parent’s responsibility to keep up with these vaccinations,” said Helton. The consequences of not keeping up with them can be detrimental and even life threatening.