The Lincoln – Lancaster County Health Department is asking that families make sure their children are current on routine vaccinations.
“Vaccinations help prevent many childhood diseases like chickenpox, flu, measles, mumps, polio, and whooping cough. It’s important to keep children up to date so they have the best protection,” said Health Director Pat Lopez.
Well-child visits and back to school or sports physicals provide a great opportunity to check with a child’s health care provider to find out what vaccines they may need. Required and recommended vaccines for children and adolescents include:
State law requires children enrolling in kindergarten or first grade and transfer students have proof of receiving the following vaccinations:
• three doses of hepatitis B vaccine
• three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTaP)
• three doses of polio vaccine (IPV)
• two doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR)
• two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
Youth entering seventh grade and transfer students must have all of the above vaccinations, as well as a Tdap pertussis booster. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends one dose of meningococcal vaccine at age 11 or 12, and two doses of human papillomavirus vaccine, which prevents various cancers. A second dose of meningococcal vaccine is recommended at age 16.
The CDC recommends a meningococcal vaccine for first-year college students, particularly those living in residence halls, and those who may not have received their second dose at age 16. The vaccine helps prevent bacterial meningitis among other serious illnesses.
Children enrolled in licensed childcare and school-based pre-kindergarten programs also need to be up to date with age-appropriate vaccinations.
The Health Department also strongly encourages parents to get their child vaccinated for COVID-19. If children are vaccinated now, the body can build protection against the virus before the start of school.
LLCHD participates in the Vaccines for Children program, which provides vaccines to eligible uninsured, underinsured, American Indian, and Medicaid-enrolled children at no cost or low cost. More information on the program is available online at health.lincoln.ne.gov or by calling 402-441-8065.