WV Legislature requires new vaccines....

[Guest guest]

This article was on the front page of the " Local " section of the newspaper

today. I was just wondering if these are required in other states also:

VACCINES REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS NEXT YEAR

The Monongalia County Health Department urges parents to start preparing for new

vaccination requirements for the 2012-13 school year.

Parents who fail to do so will find themselves at odds with state law.

Graham, program manager for public health nursing, said starting next year,

students entering seventh grade must have one dose of the Tdap vaccine and one

dose of the meningitis vaccine.

Incoming seniors must provide proof they have had at least one dose of the Tdap

vaccine and a second dose of the meningitis vaccine.

The Tdap vaccine is said to guard against pertussis, tetanus and other

illnesses. The meningitis vaccine being required protects students against

Neisseria meningitis, a bacteria causing meningitis, according to Graham.

" We want kids to start taking care of this now, not waiting until summer when

the lines are so long they can't get in, " she said. " This is being enforced

throughout the whole state; it passed the state legislature. "

Neisseria meningitides is one of the leading causes of meningitis in the U.S.,

Graham said. College students and other adolescents in close quarters, such as

summer camp, are at higher risk of getting it.

" Consequences can be fatal, " she added, " About 10 to 14 percent of those

contracting meningitis will dies, sometimes as fast as within 48 hours. "

Individuals who survive the illness sometimes lose limbs and are left with

significant disabilities, according to health officials.

Graham downplayed the health risks resulting from the vaccines themselves,

saying, " The vaccines are approved and backed by research. "

Some recipients may experience a sore arm, and even sometimes a fever, but

Graham said the benefits outweigh the risks. Some will argue that point, she

said.

Attempts to contact a doctor at WVU Hospitals were unsuccessful.

" I think it's a great thing, " Joanne Hines said, principal of Mountaineer Middle

School. " You aren't just protecting students; you are protecting families and

younger children who could potentially catch the illness. "

The school's nurse will coordinate with the county and monitor the immunizations

that children receive next year. " If it is state policy, we are going to follow

it, " she added.

In seven years, Hines has never seen a breakout of meningitis or illnesses

associated with the Tdap vaccine at Mountaineer Middle .

Cottrell, principal of Clay-Battelle High School, is also giving the

health department the benefit of the doubt.

" I am no doctor, " he said. " I am sure they have a reason for the new

requirements. " Cottrell is in his first year as principal,but served as the

school's assistant principal for a decade. Cottrell has never seen a case of

meningitis at Clay Battelle.

Possible side effects of a meningococcal vaccination include soreness or redness

at site of the shot, and rarely, a fever or serious allergic reaction, according

to the CDC.

The possible side effects of the Tdap vaccines are pain, redness or swelling,

mild fever, headache, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache,

chills, body aches, sore joints, rash and swollen glands, the CDC says.

Attempts to contact parents of school-age children were unsuccessful.

Aren't these " facts " a little skewed?

[Guest guest]

A little skewed, yes, including this assertion as if it's fact: "We want kids to start taking care of this now, not waiting until summer when the lines are so long they can't get in."

Long lines, eh? Like the "long lines" of NO ONE in California?

Winnie WV Legislature requires new vaccines....Vaccinations > This article was on the front page of the "Local" section of the > newspaper today. I was just wondering if these are required in > other states also:> > VACCINES REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS NEXT YEAR> > The Monongalia County Health Department urges parents to start > preparing for new vaccination requirements for the 2012-13 > school year.> > Parents who fail to do so will find themselves at odds with > state law. Graham, program manager for public health > nursing, said starting next year, students entering seventh > grade must have one dose of the Tdap vaccine and one dose of the > meningitis vaccine.> > Incoming seniors must provide proof they have had at least one > dose of the Tdap vaccine and a second dose of the meningitis vaccine.> > The Tdap vaccine is said to guard against pertussis, tetanus and > other illnesses. The meningitis vaccine being required protects > students against Neisseria meningitis, a bacteria causing > meningitis, according to Graham.> > "We want kids to start taking care of this now, not waiting > until summer when the lines are so long they can't get in," she > said. "This is being enforced throughout the whole state; it > passed the state legislature."> > Neisseria meningitides is one of the leading causes of > meningitis in the U.S., Graham said. College students and other > adolescents in close quarters, such as summer camp, are at > higher risk of getting it.> > "Consequences can be fatal," she added, "About 10 to 14 percent > of those contracting meningitis will dies, sometimes as fast as > within 48 hours."> > Individuals who survive the illness sometimes lose limbs and are > left with significant disabilities, according to health officials.> > Graham downplayed the health risks resulting from the vaccines > themselves, saying, "The vaccines are approved and backed by > research."> Some recipients may experience a sore arm, and even sometimes a > fever, but Graham said the benefits outweigh the risks. Some > will argue that point, she said.> > Attempts to contact a doctor at WVU Hospitals were unsuccessful. > > "I think it's a great thing," Joanne Hines said, principal of > Mountaineer Middle School. "You aren't just protecting > students; you are protecting families and younger children who > could potentially catch the illness."> > The school's nurse will coordinate with the county and monitor > the immunizations that children receive next year. "If it is > state policy, we are going to follow it," she added.> > In seven years, Hines has never seen a breakout of meningitis or > illnesses associated with the Tdap vaccine at Mountaineer Middle .> > Cottrell, principal of Clay-Battelle High School, is also > giving the health department the benefit of the doubt.> > "I am no doctor," he said. "I am sure they have a reason for > the new requirements." Cottrell is in his first year as > principal,but served as the school's assistant principal for a > decade. Cottrell has never seen a case of meningitis at Clay > Battelle.> Possible side effects of a meningococcal vaccination include > soreness or redness at site of the shot, and rarely, a fever or > serious allergic reaction, according to the CDC.> > The possible side effects of the Tdap vaccines are pain, redness > or swelling, mild fever, headache, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, > diarrhea, stomach ache, chills, body aches, sore joints, rash > and swollen glands, the CDC says.> > Attempts to contact parents of school-age children were unsuccessful.> > Aren't these "facts" a little skewed? > > >