Schools Look For Students To Get Vaccinated Before New Year

Pencils and papers aren't the only thing kids need when they head back to school in a few weeks.

“Our goal is so our students can be healthy and ready to learn and what better way than to have them fully vaccinated,” said Annette Wilson, JMCSS Health Administrator.

In Tennessee, immunizations are required for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and seventh graders before they start the year.

Medical director for West Tennessee’s Health Department, Michael Revelle, says these vaccines are important for more than just the students.

“Having herd immunity or having the entire school population immunized is very important.

Vaccines keep us safe, they keep our children safe from diseases we haven’t seen or heard of in a while. I mean, a lot of young doctors now have never seen a case of chicken pox.”

Negative effects, according to Revelle, are nonexistent.

He says not vaccinating your child will allow the disease to grow and then spread.

“I know there’s some concerns about vaccines, they have studied this ad nauseum if you will, and have found them to be safe. So its recommended that before you go back to school and the sooner you’re immunized the better,” added Revelle.

The school health clinic will be open Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM to 4 PM to give students physicals and immunizations.

Students going off to college should also look at the immunizations that their school requires.