With local schools scheduled to resume on Monday, Aug. 23, Sarasota County public health and school officials remind parents to get your child’s immunizations updated now. Parents of children who will be entering schools in Sarasota County for the first time must provide the school office with a completed Florida Certification of Immunization form (also known as the blue DH 680). This form, which is available through your health care provider, is the official record.

Public school students who do not have the required immunizations will be sent home on the first day of school, Monday, Aug. 23. In addition, they will not be able to ride the bus or participate in sports, band or other extracurricular activities until the school has the DH 680 form showing that the shots were received.

The 2010-11 Florida immunization requirements for school attendance are:

Kindergarten and grades 1–6:

• 5 DTPs (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) (DTaP) vaccine
• 4 polio
• 2 MMRs (2 measles, 2 mumps and 2 rubella)
• 3 hepatitis B
• 1 varicella (chicken pox) for grades 3, 4, 5 and 6
• 2 varicella (chicken pox) kindergarten and grades 1 and 2

Grades 7–12:

• 5 DTPs (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)
• 2 MMRs (2 measles, 2 mumps and 2 rubella)
• 3 Hepatitis B
• 1 Tdap (tetanus diphtheria) for grades 7 and 8
• 1 Tdap or Td for grades 9-12
• 1 varicella (chicken pox) for grades 7, 8 and 9

“Let’s all have a great start to the school year. Compare your child’s immunization record with the immunization requirements, and also remember to get the H1N1 vaccine to protect against the flu in school,” said Sarasota County Health Department School Health Supervisor Linda Glover, a registered nurse.

Children entering Grade 7 in August must have proof of having received a tetanus/diphtheria booster (Td or Tdap) within the past five years. Parents also should make sure their college-bound teenagers are up-to-date with required and recommended vaccines. If your child needs updated immunizations, get them soon to avoid the long lines in mid-August. Sarasota County School District staff is returning to work on Wednesday, July 28.

“Bring your student’s blue DH 680 form to the school as soon after that date (July 28) as you can so your child’s first day of school will be a positive experience,” said Glover.

The Sarasota County Health Department, through the federally funded Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, offers free immunizations to children from families who lack health insurance or whose insurance does not pay for immunizations. No appointment is needed. A parent or legal guardian must be present, and must bring prior shot records.

Sarasota County Health Department
Children’s Immunization Clinic
2200 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
Monday- Friday
Call 941-861-2784 for hours.

South County Resource Center campus (just north of State College of Florida, formerly Manatee Community College)
South County Family Health Center
19501 W. Villages Parkway, #B2
North Port
[Formerly 7820 Tamiami Trail S., Venice (same location, new address)]
Monday-Friday
Call 941-861-3338 for hours.

For more information, contact your health care provider or the Sarasota County Health Department’s Office of School Health at 941-927-9000, ext. 32101. For a complete schedule of when shots are available, visit the Sarasota District’s school health website: http://www.sarasota.k12.fl.us/schoolhealth.