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ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - It seems as though summer has just begun, but students will be returning to school before we realize it. The Alachua County Health Department would like to advise parents and guardians that this coming school year brings about several new immunization requirements for all children Kindergarten through grade 12 entering and attending public and non-public school.
Students entering/attending Kindergarten will be required to have completed 2 doses of the Chickenpox vaccine. (This would also include any child who is retained in Kindergarten.) Both doses are to be documented on the DH 680, blue Certificate of Immunization.
All students in Kindergarten through grade 12 must now have 2 doses of Measles, 2 doses of Mumps and 2 doses of Rubella vaccine. These 2 doses must be documented on their DH 680, blue Certificate of Immunization. In the past, students were only required to have documentation of 2 Measles doses. Most students should have had the required doses, as they most likely received 2 MMRs (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine). Students coming from other states or countries sometimes only have documentation of 2 doses of Measles vaccine and one dose of Mumps/Rubella.
The Alachua County Health Department is asking parents to check their child's shot record now and make an appointment with their medical provider if their child needs additional shots. Required shots are also offered free of charge at all Alachua County Health Department sites. The main office, located at 224 SE 24th St., Gainesville, offers a walk in clinic, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 352-334-7950. The Alachua and High Springs clinics are by appointment only. The Alachua clinic can be reached at 386-462-2542 and the High Springs clinic can be reached at 386-454-2421. Please bring your child's shot record with you.
The Alachua County Health Department will also be participating with the School Board of Alachua County's "Back to School Fair" being held on Saturday, August 16, 2008 in the O'Connell Center located on the University of Florida campus. This event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The goal of the Alachua County Health Department is to promote, protect, maintain and improve health and safety of all the citizens and visitors. For more information, call the Alachua County Health Department at 352-334-7950.
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