Immunization updates on parents’ minds as back-to-school draws near

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Texas has several vaccine requirements for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, and in order to return to school in the coming weeks, they must be up to date.

These vaccines include tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella or MMR, hepatitis A and B, varicella or chicken pox, and meningitis.

There are, of course, exceptions for students who have official state exemptions from these vaccinations for medical reasons or for ‘reasons of conscience’ including religion.

“Well, the objective is to get kids vaccinated and immunized, you know, prevention of diseases and them being spread, so it protects,” says Texas registered nurse Brian Cross. “Each kid that gets vaccinated is protected, and being vaccinated, it helps protect their friends at school.”

Cross travels across East Texas with a mobile vaccine clinic that caters specifically to schools and school districts. Wednesday morning they were stationed at Jacksonville Middle School, giving parents in the area a quick and easy solution to cross off one more thing on the back-to-school list.

“School is about to start, so we’re starting to get busier right now, but it’s not going to get any slower between now and when school starts,” warns CEO of Northeast Texas Public Health George Roberts.

NET Health offers vaccines five days a week, for little to no cost.

Roberts says it is imperative to get kids vaccinated to protect the schools and the entire community from serious diseases.

“Come see us as soon as you possibly can so we can get you taken care of and get you in, get you out, and get your kids taken care of and ready to start school in a healthy manner to start off the 23-24 school year,” he says.

To learn more about immunization requirements and exemptions, click here.

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