It may seem like school just ended, but as the beginning of the next school year draws closer, parents need to plan ahead to have their children see the family doctor, whether for immunizations, a sports physical or just an annual wellness check-up. In many cases, it’s a requirement if your child is attending school in South Carolina.
Here are some things to keep in mind as the new school year draws closer.
Schedule the check-up early. The closer the new school year is, the more likely the doctor’s appointment times will be booked. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) suggests, “Spring or summer break is a great time to get this done so you won’t run into any delays once school begins.” If getting an appointment becomes an issue, you can vaccinate your child at a DHEC health department.
Check to see what vaccinations are recommended versus what is required. South Carolina requires students to be vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, DTaP (tetanus, whooping cough), polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and varicella (chickenpox). This applies to all students in public and private schools, and it even applies to students who are doing remote learning.
- Hepatitis A: All children starting 5K or enrolling in a South Carolina school up to and including the third grade will need two hepatitis A shots, given about six months apart. Keep this in mind when scheduling a visit, or your child may not be allowed to start school without the full hepatitis A series.
- Hepatitis B
- DTaP (tetanus, whooping cough): This has been required before a student starts the seventh grade since 2013. “Seventh graders will not be able to receive a class schedule during registration without proof of DTaP vaccination,” according to DHEC.
- Polio
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Varicella (chickenpox)
Your doctor may have additional recommendations depending on community health issues. “When every student receives an annual flu vaccine, it protects schools from flu outbreaks,” according to DHEC. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that anyone over six months old get an annual flu shot. “It is especially important for kids with health conditions like asthma or diabetes to get the flu vaccine,” advises the CDC.
The state also recommends, although not required, the HPV vaccine to protect against cancers and the meningitis vaccine. A student can get these vaccines at ages 11 to 12. “When the [HPV] vaccine is given before age 15, kids only need two shots, six-12 months apart,” according to the CDC. After the first meningitis shot at age 11 to 12, your child will need a booster shot at age 16.
Make sure to get a new South Carolina Certificate of Immunization every time your child gets vaccinated and give a copy of the certificate to your child’s school. This should head off any problems with verification.
A student must have the required vaccinations within 30 days of the start of school. “If a student is not in compliance with having a valid certificate or exemption on file, the school administrator is required by law to exclude the student from school and/or discontinue access to the online learning environment until a valid certificate or exemption is on file for the student,” states DHEC.
Because of varying school system start dates, a grace period is allowed until Oct.1 to have either the certificate submitted or proof of an appointment.
A check-up may be needed for student athletes. Older students wishing to participate in school sports will usually need a doctor’s approval verifying that they are healthy enough to do so. Even if a sports check-up isn’t required for some reason, it is still a good idea to have one, and it can be combined with an annual wellness check-up for your child.
With some planning and a little preparation, you can remove a doctor’s visit from your “must do” list before it becomes a problem for both you and your children. It will help your child have a smooth start to the school year.
For more information about South Carolina school immunization requirements, visit scdhec.gov/Health/Vaccinations/VaccinesNeededforSchoolAdmission/.
By James Rada, Jr.
