March 7, 2016
Dear Parents of Upcoming 7th Graders (Fall 16),
The exciting time for your student to enter 7th grade is coming soon! Historically students entering 7th grade are required by law to receive the Tdap vaccination. This helps to protect your child from illnesses such as Whooping Cough, Tetanus, and Diptheria. This coming school year, in addition to the Tdap immunization, your child must also be immunized against Meningitis and have proof of both immunizations on file before the start of 7th grade (legislation for this was signed by Governor Kasich in July 2015). This law also includes an additional Meningococcal booster before 12th grade.
Meningitis is a disease that is life threatening caused by bacteria that infect the blood, brain and spinal cord. This disease is contagious and is easily spread from person to person in crowded settings such as schools and colleges. Meningitis is difficult to detect and can cause shock, coma, and even death within the first few hours of the start of symptoms. It is recommended that students receive this vaccine at this age (11 – 12 years old) because they typically begin sharing personal items more frequently. As with many vaccines, meningitis shots may cause mild side effects, such as redness and soreness at the injection site.
Please start thinking ahead and schedule an appointment with your family doctor to get your child vaccinated. Please be sure to remind your doctor about the new Meningitis vaccination requirement to prevent having to make an additional trip to the doctor. Once your child receives his/her vaccines, please send a copy of the record to school with your child for our records. Your student will not be permitted to begin 7th grade without meeting this vaccination requirement. Get this matter out of the way before this school year ends so that you can enjoy a worry free summer! Your student will not be permitted to begin 7th grade without these two vaccines.
Should you have any questions regarding this new requirement you may contact me at (330) 345-6475 (ext. 7172) and for specific medical questions, please contact your child’s physician or the Wayne County Health Department. Because this is a law in our state, even if you are unable to pay for this vaccine, your child can be immunized through the health department.
Sincerely,
Shelly Mountjoy, RN, MSN, LSN