The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is requiring new vaccination requirements for students in preschool through ninth grade for the 2009-2010 school year. In 2010, there will be new requirements for all students.

“The need for vaccination coverage, based on the disease outbreaks that we’ve had, overrode the need to gradually phase in requirements,” said Sue Bowden, director of KDHE immunization program.
While these are new requirements for students to attend school, they have been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for years, and most doctors and health professionals have been following them.

They new immunization requirements are:
• Kindergartners need two doses of the varicella, or chickenpox, vaccine instead of one.
• Students in sixth through ninth grades need one dose of varicella vaccine. This wasn’t required last year. If a student has had chickenpox disease, the school needs documentation from a licensed physician, not just a parent. If the school already has documentation from a parent, that is acceptable.
• Students in sixth through ninth grades need three doses of hepatitis B; it wasn’t required last year.
• Eleven-year-old children need a diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster. That wasn’t required last year. The guidance is those students with birthdates from 09/01/1997 to 08/31/1998, and who will be 11 years old prior to September 1, 2009, will be required to have documentation of Tdap, if it has been more than 2 years since the previous dose of Td/DTaP/DT. Students older than 12 years of age needing a booster because it has been 10 years since the previous Td/DTaP/DT also require Tdap.

“School nurses are notifying parents about what immunizations their children might need,” according to Melanie Vogts, Nurse Supervisor for Child Health at Unified Government Public Health Department. “We strongly recommend that parents not wait until school is about to start before bringing their children in for vaccines.”

Students who are fully insured are encouraged to stay within their healthcare network for immunizations. For those students who do not have private health insurance, or whose insurance does not cover immunization costs, the Unified Government Public Health Department can help. They have access to the federal Vaccines for Children program, which provides immunizations for free for those who qualify. The health department does charge an administration fee, but does not deny services based on the ability to pay, and is willing to work with parents.
For more information about the new requirements, contact the Unified Government Public Health Department clinic at 913-573-6710. For information about immunization services call 913-573-8888. Detailed information about the required immunizations can be found online at kdheks.gov/immunize/schoolinfo.htm.

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Health Department
H1N1 Information

Joseph M. Connor, Director
619 Ann Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-321-4803
Fax: 913-321-7932

H1N1 influenza is a serious health concern. The United States and its many regional public health entities and organizations have been gearing up and planning for the impact of this pandemic since its identification in the spring of 2009.

The Unified Government Public Health Department has provided a group of key recommendations as we move into the fall and anticipate an increase in H1N1 cases. These key recommendations include:

* Be alert to signs and symptoms of illness – Fever greater than 100 degrees; Body aches; Coughing; Sore throat; Respiratory congestion; In some cases, diarrhea and vomiting
* Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
* Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers and friends.
* Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
* Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.
* Get a “Flu Shot” – most everyone over the age of 6 months should get both a “seasonal flu shot” and an “H1N1 flu shot” this year – “seasonal flu shots” are available now and “H1N1 flu shots” will be available in the near future.

UG Public Health Department Expands H1N1 Vaccinations to the General Public

For updated information on Novel H1N1 and Seasonal Flu, please visit the following websites and related information:

* H1N1 – A New Kind of Flu
* H1N1 Vaccinations
* http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
* http://www.pandemicflu.gov/
* http://.kdheks.gov/download/H1N1_A_New_Kind_of_Flu.pdf
* http://www.kdheks.gov/H1N1
* Ten Local Health Departments

You can also email questions to:

* H1N1FluInfo@kdheks.gov
* www.cdc.gov/flu
* www.preparemetrokc.org

http://educate-yourself.org/vcd/kansascityvaccinegestapo14dec09.shtml