Parents urged to get school kids immunized

With the new school year fast approaching, Dr. Elliot Schulman, county health officer, is urging parents to be sure their children are fully immunized before classes begin. California schools are required to verify each child’s immunization record to ensure that all required doses are completed.

“Immunizations are a safe and effective way to help kids stay healthy by protecting them from serious diseases, such as whooping cough, hepatitis B and chickenpox,” Schulman said. “These illnesses are still around and can rapidly spread between children who have not been fully immunized.”

The immunizations that must be current in order for a child to attend school include polio vaccine, DPT (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), varicella (chicken pox) and HBV (Hepatitis B).

For additional information, call the Child Health & Disability Prevention Program at 681-5130, Santa Barbara County Health Care Services at 681-5260 or the Isla Vista Medical Clinic at 968-1511 or visit the Goleta Union School District’s website,www.goleta.k12.ca.us.