New York State requires two vaccines for all sixth graders this year

There are two shots your sixth grader needs this year in order to attend school; the tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis shot (also known as “TDaP”) and a chicken pox booster shot. According to a new state law, all students ages 11-12 entering sixth grade must be vaccinated in order to attend school.

“The first notice that I had received from this was Honeoye Falls schools telling parents their kids would need the TDaP booster going into sixth grade,” says Dr. Edward Lewis, a pediatrician in Brighton,” it's not a problem for most sixth graders but there are some who will start school and are only 10.”  

Children entering sixth grade at age 10, will be allowed to attend school but will need proof of vaccination when they turn eleven.  In addition to the required diptheria, tetanus, pertussis and chicken pox vaccines, your doctor may also recommend the “Menactra” for meningitis. This vaccine is only a recommendation, not a requirement by schools.  

For those children who have an allergic reaction or other medical reason for not receiving the vaccinations, paperwork will need to be presented to the school district to explain the exception. School districts and pediatricians can help parents finds and fill out the necessary paperwork.

“If you give those two (TDaP and Menactra) together, theoretically, there's a little less of a reaction in sore arms,” says Lewis.

The bill was signed into law by New York legislators in Spring 2007. The chicken pox vaccine was released to the U.S. market two years ago. The vaccine has proven 97% effective in children at preventing chicken pox. The TDaP vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) is for children beginning at age 11. The vaccine is intended to not only prevent the infection, but increase immunity against the condition.

There has been an increase in Pertussis or “whooping cough” across the United States in recent years. In New York State, the health department estimates there are 300 to 1000 cases of pertussis a year. In Monroe County, since December 2006, there have been increasing rates of pertussis with cases ranging in age from 8 years old to 66 years.

“We've seen deaths from Pertussis so it's an important vaccine and I think the basis for requiring a vaccine for sixth graders is a public health way of making sure that we produce herd immunity,” says Dr. Lewis.

In Monroe County, school districts are notifying parents in a variety of ways; either by email, letters sent home, district websites or Fall mailings. Contact your school district for more information about their vaccination requirements.