SEVENTH-GRADERS REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED FOR HEPATITIS B

Entering the seventh grade this year will be a little more challenging than just signing up for classes. Students also will have to make sure they have at least three hepatitis B vaccines.

As of this fall, the state of Missouri is requiring more immunizations to keep the disease at bay as children go on to high school and their adult years.

Sue Denny, health program representative for the Missouri Department of Health, said the state made more immunization requirements for kindergarteners in 1996. But students entering junior high have not had the same requirements, which is why the state is targeting them.

Annually about 200,000 people get hepatitis B. It is 100 times easier to contract hepatitis than the HIV virus that causes AIDS. Hepatitis is related to liver disease and liver cancer.

Denny said students will need to have documentation that they have had the immunizations before attending fall classes.

"We would hope that they get at least two in before school starts," Denny said.

On the local level Jane Wernsman, assistant director of the Cape Girardeau County Health Center, said most of the children entering seventh grade in the area have already had at least two shots.

"Last April we went out to all of the schools and gave them the first and second doses," Wernsman said. "We will be going back in the fall to do the third shot."

She said the county health department went to the schools because there was not a whole lot of time to comply with the new laws.

But now that people are aware of the changes in the law, she said that it will not be necessary to do this again for current sixth graders.

"Everybody has knowledge of it," Wernsman said. "Parents of sixth graders should go ahead and start the first and second immunizations."

After the first shot, there needs to be a period of at least a month before the child can get the second shot. The third shot must be at least five months after the second shot. Denny said there can be more time in between shots, but not less time.

The new immunization laws also require a fourth shot for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis for kindergarten students.

Denny said the new law is simply putting Missouri in line with the rest of the nation.

"Kindgarteners have had three up till now," Denny said. "The fourth is not really a big deal. Everybody in daycare will already have the fourth shot."

Wernsman said the county health center has clinics available for children needing shots. They can be reached at 335-7846.