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Students rush to get vaccines
By Cheryl Scott
Daily News staff writer
Deadline to receive immunization shots one month away
Wisconsin students heading back to school on Tuesday will not only need to rush out to buy notebooks and pens; some students who waited until the last minute also will need to receive vaccinations in the next month or they will face suspension, said Janet Zoellner, Rock County Health Department public health nursing supervisor and R.N.
The Wisconsin Student Immunization law changed March 1 and requires students to have more vaccinations at the start of the 2008-09 school year. The law requires one dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) for students entering sixth, ninth and 12th grades. Students also need to get two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine if they are entering kindergarten, sixth and 12th grades.
Although the School Districts of Beloit and Beloit Turner sent out letters about the immunization changes in the spring, Zoellner said the clinics held earlier in the year were not well-attended.
“There's a lot of activity at the immunization clinic now,” Zoellner said.
To accommodate students who need vaccinations at the last minute, Zoellner said the health department doubled the number of nurses and clerical staff in the South Office, at 61 Eclipse Center, Beloit. In addition, parents and students can make appointments for some of the immunization clinics, so they won't have long waits at the walk-in clinics.
“We expect now to mid-October to be very busy,” Zoellner said.
Immunizations cost $5 each or can be paid for with Medical Assistance. No child will be turned away because of inability to pay, Zoellner said.
A few exceptions exist for the vaccine requirements. Children in sixth, ninth and 12th grades who already have received a tetanus-containing vaccine, such as Td vaccine, in the past five years do not need the Tdap vaccine. Students entering kindergarten, sixth and 12th grades do not need the varicella vaccine if they contract chickenpox, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services “School Immunization Fact Sheet.”
If students have not complied with the vaccine requirements within a month of school starting, Zoellner said they will receive a letter from the school asking for compliance. Another letter will be sent later, if students do not comply. Finally, an exclusion letter will be mailed to students who have still not received vaccines, and they will be suspended, Zoellner said.
Parents who are not sure about their children's immunization records may call the Rock County Health Department South Office in Beloit at 608-364-2010.
Immunization clinics
Students may receive immunizations from the Rock County Health Department at the following days and times:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., either health department office - To make an appointment at the South Office in Beloit, call 608-364-2010. To make an appointment at the North Office in Janesville, call 608-757-5440.
Wednesdays, walk-in clinic at the South Office, 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., 61 Eclipse Center, Beloit
Fridays, walk-in clinic at the North Office, 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., 3328 N. U.S. Highway 51, Janesville
Sept. 2, 3 - 5 p.m., St. Stephens Catholic Church, Shu-Lar Lane, Clinton
Sept. 10, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Center Court in the Eclipse Center
Sept. 16, 3 - 5 p.m., Orfordville Lutheran Church, 210 N. Main St., Orfordville
Oct. 14, 3 - 5 p.m., Beloit Town Hall, 2871 Afton Road
To find out about more immunization clinics throughout the county, go to http://www.co.rock.wi.us/Dept/Health/Immunizations.htm and click on “School Immunization Clinic (PDF).”
Wisconsin students heading back to school on Tuesday will not only need to rush out to buy notebooks and pens; some students who waited until the last minute also will need to receive vaccinations in the next month or they will face suspension, said Janet Zoellner, Rock County Health Department public health nursing supervisor and R.N.
The Wisconsin Student Immunization law changed March 1 and requires students to have more vaccinations at the start of the 2008-09 school year. The law requires one dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) for students entering sixth, ninth and 12th grades. Students also need to get two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine if they are entering kindergarten, sixth and 12th grades.
Although the School Districts of Beloit and Beloit Turner sent out letters about the immunization changes in the spring, Zoellner said the clinics held earlier in the year were not well-attended.
“There's a lot of activity at the immunization clinic now,” Zoellner said.
To accommodate students who need vaccinations at the last minute, Zoellner said the health department doubled the number of nurses and clerical staff in the South Office, at 61 Eclipse Center, Beloit. In addition, parents and students can make appointments for some of the immunization clinics, so they won't have long waits at the walk-in clinics.
“We expect now to mid-October to be very busy,” Zoellner said.
Immunizations cost $5 each or can be paid for with Medical Assistance. No child will be turned away because of inability to pay, Zoellner said.
A few exceptions exist for the vaccine requirements. Children in sixth, ninth and 12th grades who already have received a tetanus-containing vaccine, such as Td vaccine, in the past five years do not need the Tdap vaccine. Students entering kindergarten, sixth and 12th grades do not need the varicella vaccine if they contract chickenpox, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services “School Immunization Fact Sheet.”
If students have not complied with the vaccine requirements within a month of school starting, Zoellner said they will receive a letter from the school asking for compliance. Another letter will be sent later, if students do not comply. Finally, an exclusion letter will be mailed to students who have still not received vaccines, and they will be suspended, Zoellner said.
Parents who are not sure about their children's immunization records may call the Rock County Health Department South Office in Beloit at 608-364-2010.
Immunization clinics
Students may receive immunizations from the Rock County Health Department at the following days and times:
To find out about more immunization clinics throughout the county, go to http://www.co.rock.wi.us/Dept/Health/Immunizations.htm and click on “School Immunization Clinic (PDF).”
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