Changes affect mainly students entering kindergarten and seventh grade. All immunizations must be completed by the first day of attendance at public and private schools.

Hepatitis A vaccine

·         New requirement as of Aug. 1: Students entering kindergarten must have had two doses.

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine

·         New requirement as of Aug. 1: Students entering kindergarten must have had two doses of the MMR vaccine. Students in grades 1 through 12 must have had two doses of a measles-containing vaccine and one dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine.

Varicella vaccine

·         New requirement as of Aug. 1: Students entering kindergarten and seventh grade must have had two doses.

Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap)

·         New requirement as of Aug. 1: Students entering seventh grade must have had one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in seventh grade must have had a booster dose of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Students in grades 8 through 12 must have had a booster dose of Tdap if it has been 10 years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine.

Menigococcal vaccine

·         New requirement as of Aug. 1: Students entering seventh grade must have had one dose.

A student may be enrolled provisionally if the student has received at least one dose of each required vaccine. To remain enrolled, the student must complete the required doses in each vaccine series on schedule and as rapidly as is medically feasible.

Information about the new Texas immunization requirements was sent to health care providers, schools and child-care facilities earlier this year.

The full list of immunization requirements effective August  1 for the 2009-2010 school year is available at www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/docs/school/6-14eng.pdf.

Immunizations also are required for children in pre-kindergarten and child-care facilities. Those requirements are available at www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/docs/school/childcare_reqsENG.pdf.