Back to School Means a Dose of Immunizations

With most Orange County schools set to open in less than two weeks, the fall back-to-school rituals are well under way. There are shopping trips for new lunch boxes and pencils and the less-pleasant outings to receive immunizations required for entering school.

The mandatory inoculations are DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and oral vaccine for polio. Each series requires two or more doses over varying periods of time.

In order to start school, all children must have had at least the first dose of oral vaccine for polio and MMR and DTP shots, said Dr. Gerald A. Wagner, medical director of the Orange County Health Department’s immunization program.

To stay in school, children must receive the other doses on schedule, he said.

The health department is offering all the vaccines for free. Additional free immunizations for HiB (meningitis) and Hepatitis B are available as well. They are not required by law, but the county health department strongly recommends them.

HiB, a serious illness affecting the brain and its surrounding tissues, primarily strikes children up to 2 years old, leaving up to 30% of its victims with impairments such as hearing loss, Wagner said. Most victims of Hepatitis B are in their early 20s, he said, but public health officials recommend beginning inoculations in infancy, Wagner said.

Last year, the county health department administered 250,000 immunizations.

In addition to the county health department, some school districts are offering immunizations for children. The county’s biggest, Santa Ana Unified, will provide them free for non-English speaking children new to the district on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. at its Registration Testing Center, 3321 S. Fairview Road, Santa Ana. Details on other districts’ plans can be obtained from district offices.

The Orange County Health Care Agency is offering free immunizations at the following times and places. No appointments are required.

* Santa Ana, 1725 W. 17th Street. Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m.-4 p.m. and Tuesdays until 7 p.m.

* Buena Park, 7212 Orangethorpe Ave. Every Thursday, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

* Westminster, 6462-B Industry Way. Every Tuesday, 12:30-5 p.m.

* Costa Mesa, 2845 Mesa Verde Drive East. First and third Wednesdays of each month, 1-5 p.m.

* San Juan Capistrano, 27512 Calle Arroyo. Every Thursday, 1-4 p.m.

Childhood Immunizations

Children entering kindergarten must have had at least the first dose of the DTP, MMR and oral polio series. HiB and Hepatitis B are optional, although strongly suggested.

* DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis): three shots four to eight weeks apart, then a fourth dose in six to 12 months.

* MMR (measles, mumps and rubella): one shot given on or after the child’s first birthday, and a second dose before the child enters kindergarten.

* Oral polio: one dose before entering school; second dose six to eight weeks later and a third dose in six to 12 months.

* HiB (meningitis): for infants, at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 15 months.

* Hepatitis B: two doses one month apart, then a third dose six months later. Can be given at any age.