IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Back-to-school season is in full swing, and many parents are starting to prepare their children for the classroom.
A major factor in back-to-school preparation is ensuring children are up to date on their vaccinations.
With so much already on parents’ back-to-school checklist, access to affordable and convenient vaccines can ease some of the stress. Meeting school vaccine requirements can be as simple as a quick stop at the grocery store.
“It makes it way more convenient for parents with school age kids,” WanNell White, a pharmacist at Fred Meyers in Idaho Falls,said. “You can come get your school supplies, do that kind of thing, and stop and get your vaccines at the same time. And if you’re not sure which vaccines you need, stop and talk to a pharmacist. We actually have the accessibility to look online and see which vaccines you’ve had if they were in Idaho.”
Idaho law requires students attending preschool and grades K-12 of any public, private, or parochial schools to meet the minimum vaccine documentation requirements upon admission.
An overview of vaccination requirements by grade level administered:
- Preschool – 6th Grade:
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
- Polio
- Hepatitis A & B
- Varicella
- 7th – 11th Grade
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) Booster
- Meningococcal (MenACWY)
- 12th Grade
- Meningococcal (MenACWY) follow up
You can find more information about the requirements here.
One of these required vaccinations is going to look a little different. On Monday, President Donald Trump announced an executive order to separate the MMR vaccine into three separate shots.
The announcement was just made this week, so your local Pharmacy may not have changed its vaccinations to this separate order. The MMR is still a safe vaccine for children to receive.
