The Nassau County Department of Health is reminding families that updating children's vaccinations should be added to their back-to-school list.
In order to be fully protected, students should have all the appropriate vaccinations for their age. The following schedule ensures that children meet New York State school immunization requirements and are protected against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type b, polio, pneumococcal disease and chickenpox.
Vaccines
Pre-Kindergarten
(Day Care, Nursery, Head Start, or Pre-K)
School (K-12)
Diphtheria Toxoid-Containing Vaccine
3 doses
3 doses
Tetanus Toxoid-Containing Vaccine and Pertussis Vaccine (DTaP, DTP)
3 doses if born on or after 1/1/2005
3 doses if born on or after 1/1/2005
Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Booster (Tdap)
Not applicable
Born on or after 1/1/1994 and enrolling in grades 6 through 10 for the 2011-2012 school year
1 dose
Polio (IPV or OPV)
3 doses
3 doses
Measels, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
1 dose
2 doses of measles-containing vaccine and 1 dose each of mumps and rubella (preferably as MMR)
Hepatitis B
3 doses
3 doses
Haemophilus Influenza type B (Hib)
3 doses if less than 15 months of age or 1 dose administered on or after 15 months of age
Not applicable
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)
Born on or after 1/1/2008
4 doses by 15 months of age,
given at age-appropriate times and intervals
Not applicable
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Born on or after 1/1/2000
Born on or after 1/1/1998 or born on or after 1/1/1994 and enrolling in grades 6 through 12 for the 2011-2012 school year
1 dose
In addition to the immunizations required by day cares, nursery, pre-kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, the following are vaccines are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- influenza
- meningococcal
- rotavirus
- hepatitis A
- human papilloma virus
The same groups also recommend additional doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, mumps, rubella, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b and varicella vaccines. Some of these may be obligatory for enrollment in post-secondary schools or health care training programs.
New York State’s Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) provides required vaccines to health care providers at no cost for uninsured children and those whose health insurance does not cover childhood immunizations.
The Nassau County Department of Health also reminds adults that they never outgrow the need for vaccines. The specific immunizations needed are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, presence of high-risk conditions, type and locations of travel, and previous immunization history.
For additional information, contact your healthcare provider or call the Nassau County Department of Health Immunization Hotline weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at (516) 227-9416.
