PARENTS FIND NO SHOTS, NO SCHOOL

Cape Girardeau students who didn't have proper immunizations had a choice Thursday to get the shots or go home.

A new Missouri law bans students from classrooms unless they have been properly immunized.

On the first day of classes Thursday, most Cape Girardeau schools had just a handful of children who weren't in compliance, said school nurse Linda Goodman. Central High had more than 20.

Nurses called parents. Some youngsters had received the shots but hadn't turned in the paperwork. Others needed shots.

The Cape Girardeau Health Department has been on standby this week, giving shots as needed to school children.

Goodman said a few children were sent home Thursday.

At Jackson, several youngsters were sent to the Cape Girardeau County Health Department Wednesday, on the first day of school, to complete their shots.

Classes start Monday at Nell Holcomb School, but all students who are pre-enrolled already have the proper immunization, said a school spokesman.

In the past, Missouri students had a 15-day grace period after the start of school to get immunizations up-to-date. Last year's change in the law eliminated that grace period.

The new state law also requires that all students, kindergarten through high school, be vaccinated against tetanus before entering school, and children six and under are now required to be immunized against whooping cough before starting school.

The Cape Girardeau Health Department has been busy this week giving last-minute boosters and other immunizations.

Nurses at area schools have mailed letters and made phone calls explaining the change in the law and notifying parents when their children needed additional inoculations.

Goodman said she personally worked through the summer trying to notify parents about the change. "I don't know if we've made believers out of them," she said.

Jackson school nurse Esther Gray was pleasantly surprised on the first day of classes because just a few students still needed shots.

While the change makes for a hectic first day of school, nurses say the change is a good one.

In the past, nurses have worked for weeks after the start of school trying to document that children were immunized.

"Hopefully parents will become responsible for getting this information to us," Goodman said.

"There is no reason a child should not be immunized," Goodman said.

Immunizations are offered free at the Cape Girardeau County Health Department.