Pacific Medical’s Dr. Eusebio: Important Immunizations to Prepare Kids for School

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Believe it or not, vaccinations have their own month. Every August is National Immunization Awareness Month, an annual observance created by the Center for Disease Control to heighten the public’s knowledge of the role immunizations play in preventing disease.

As children get ready to go back to school, it’s important to know what vaccines are appropriate based on age says Dr. Emmanuel Eusebio. “It all depends on what’s required based on the age of the child.” Laws regarding vaccinations vary from state to state; in Washington, parents must provide a Certificate of Immunization Status (CIS) or a Certificate of Exemption (COE) in order for their children to attend school.

Immunizations
Dr. Manny Eusebio reminds parents to ensure all their children’s vaccinations are up to date during the month of August before heading back to school. Photo courtesy: Pacific Medical Center

One of the largest vaccinations occurs just before kindergarten, says Eusebio. “That’s the first major exposure to school for a lot of kids and there are a number of shots they need to get before they register.” Those include DTaP, a vaccine that helps children under seven develop immunity to diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, aka pertussis.

“Pertussis is an easily communicable disease that spreads from coughing,” says Eusebio. “We saw a fairly large bump in the King County area last year. The younger you are, the more dangerous the exposure is. It can be really scary in an infant.”

At the same age, children will get an MMR /Varicella shot to protect against chicken pox and measles. “Measles is very contagious and has been seen in this area,” says Eusebio. “It’s spread through the respiratory system.” Chicken pox is less common but equally contagious. “Most pediatricians will see it a few times a year, and it can put a child out of school for a while if it’s not addressed. You have to worry about it for 7 to 21 days if you were exposed.”

Another common vaccination for younger children is IPV, which creates resistance to polio. “You don’t see it commonly, but the polio vaccination is still an important one to maintain,” says Eusebio.

South Sound YMCA
Before they head back to school, ensure your child is up to date on vaccines including an annual flu shot.

For older children, another set of boosters happens around age 11 or 12, he says, including a tetanus booster and MENATRA, which prevents the bacterial version of spinal meningitis. “That’s probably the newest one,” Eusebio notes. Another vaccine is used to fight teenaged acquired meningitis.

Aside from more specific shots, he recommends routine influenza vaccinations for anyone in a school setting. “They’re pertinent from kindergarten through high school. It’s hard to predict how severe any given year is going to be on the community. It’s no fun to be down and out for four or five days,” he says. “It’s smarter to get a vaccine for every year they’re in school, if possible.”

Make good use of the rest of the summer by getting in to see your family doctor early, he warns. “Things get crowded before school starts with sports physicals. If you come in the middle of summer, it gives us enough time to make sure that all of the questions parents have and issues they want to talk about are addressed. Otherwise it can get pretty hectic.”

To learn more about the PacMed Northgate clinic where Dr. Eusebio takes care of pediatric patients, call (206) 517-6700 or visit www.PacMed.org/Northgate

To learn more about Pacific Medical Center’s Lacey facility, call (360) 486-2800 or visit www.pacificmedicalcenters.org/where-we-are/lacey.

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