Immunizations are an excellent way to help keep your child healthy.  Children entering kindergarten need to show proof of having received DTaP and MMRV boosters.  These vaccines help protect against whooping cough, measles, and chickenpox.  Likewise, children starting sixth grade need their meningococcal and Tdap vaccines.  The HPV vaccine can also be started at this age; this vaccine protects against cervical cancer.  It’s also a good idea to get a flu shot this fall.  Influenza can be quite serious and keep a child home from school for a week or longer.

Adequate sleep is very important to school success.  Start practicing the school schedule at least a week before school starts.  Generally, this means getting to bed and getting up earlier!  Most school children need nine hours of sleep every night.  And plan on enough time in the mornings for your child to get a good breakfast.  Children who eat breakfast get better grades.

Backpacks can get heavy with school books and cause back pain.  Make sure your child’s backpack fits over fits over both shoulders so the weight is evenly distributed over his back.  Throw in some hand sanitizer and Kleenexes to help ward off those school-time germs.

Most children ride the bus to school.  Find out where and when the bus will be coming.  If possible, greet the bus driver and meet the other children at the bus stop.

Many schools have a dress code.  Make sure your child’s clothes conform to the dress code and that they are comfortable and clean.  Contact the school’s social worker if you need assistance.

Your child’s future depends on a successful school experience.  Is your child is ready for school?  Are his immunizations up-to-date?  Does he have a good sleep schedule?  Are his clothes appropriate?  If your child complains about school or isn’t doing well, talk with his teacher(s) early in the school year.  Yes, school is for learning but it should also be fun and safe!

Earlier this year, the ISDH announced that it will no longer allow county health departments to provide low-cost immunizations to children who have insurance.

This new policy is intended to reserve vaccinations for the most needy. However, even families with insurance face out-of-pocket expenses they can not afford because some insurance policies have high deductibles or only cover one shot.

Some Indiana medical practices participate in the Vaccines for Children program. 

The Vaccine for Children (VFC) program is a federal program that provides eligible children all recommended vaccines at little or no cost. However, if your doctor’s office is not a VFC participating provider, community health centers, such as HealthNet, will provide immunization to children at little or no cost.

With the new school year right around the corner, are your children up-to-date on their vaccines?

The article written reports that a new Indiana State Department of Health policy goes into effect starting July 1^st that will no longer allow county health departments to provide low-cost immunizations to children who have insurance.

photo by seanmichaelragan

This new policy is intended to reserve vaccinations for the most needy. However, even families with insurance face out-of-pocket expenses they can not afford because some insurance policies have high deductibles or only cover one shot.

Some Indiana medical practices participate in the Vaccines for Children program.  The Vaccine for Children (VFC) program is a federal program that provides eligible children all recommended vaccines at little or no cost.  However, if your doctor’s office is not a VFC participating provider, community health centers, such as HealthNet, to receive much of the same services.

Even though summer has just begun, the new school year will be here before we know it. Come August, families will be scrambling to get their children the immunizations that are required for them to start school because of an additional barrier.

The policy also concerns Dr. Sarah Stelzner, co-president of the Indiana chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“Why,” she asked, “would you put more barriers up to kids being vaccinated?”

We are still living in tight economic times and even if you have insurance, it may not cover all the costs associated with getting your child immunized.  Last year, we saw a HUGE amount of children enter the school year without the proper immunizations.  This new policy could cause citizens to maintain the trend.

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How do you feel about this new policy?
Do you think it will create more issues come this August?
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