In a winning effort to reduce childhood preventable diseases in Georgia that are preventable by requiring recommended immunizations, the Georgia Department of Human Resources Board has approved additions to these requirements for children and adolescents. Effective July 1, all children attending child care, Pre-K, Head Start and school facilities must be vaccinated according to the immunization schedules approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP,) the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP,) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP.)

“The new immunization requirements provide greater protection of Georgia’s children against those diseases that are proven to be prevented by vaccine and help parents to protect their children’s health,” said Stuart Brown, M.D., director of the Georgia Department of Human Resources’ Division of Public Health.

The additional vaccine requirements include: (1) a 2nd dose of Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine and a 2nd dose of Mumps vaccine or laboratory proof of immunity for children entering kindergarten, sixth (6th) grade, or students entering a Georgia School for the first time in any grade; (2) the Hepatitis A vaccine or laboratory proof of immunity for children enrolled in school or childcare facilities and who were born on or after January 1, 2006; and (3) the vaccine to prevent pneumonia for children under five (5) years of age and who are enrolled in child care centers, Pre-K or Head Start.

The Immunization Certificate has been revised to reflect recent changes. The new form will be available in doctors’ offices and public health departments by March 1, 2007. Providers can print the new form from the Georgia Registry of Immunization Transactions and Services (GRITS). “The new immunization requirements have been put in place to further reduce childhood diseases that can be prevented by vaccine,” said Michelle Conner, Director of the Georgia Immunization Program.

Anyone wanting more information about the new immunization requirements or where to have a child immunized, may contact their pediatrician, their local public health department, the Georgia Immunization Program at (404) 657-3158 or visit http://www.health.state.ga.us/programs/immunization.

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