With the start of the school year fast approaching, the Deschutes County Health Department is reminding parents to make sure their children have the immunizations they need to go to school and stay healthy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/ ), from January 1 through April 25, there have been 64 reports of confirmed measles cases in the United States, the highest number for the same time period since 2001. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease spread through coughing or sneezing. Symptoms can include rash, high fever, coughing, and runny nose. The disease can also cause more serious complications, such as ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), even death.

"It's very important to remember that these diseases still exist today and can be spread from person to person. That is why we are asking parents to make sure their children are up to date on their shots before they enter child care or school this fall," said Health Department Immunization Program Coordinator, Heather Kaisner.

Oregon law requires that parents with children in school provide proof that the child is protected against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, and vericella. Children less than five years old are also required to have a haemophilus influenzae Type B (Hib) shot, which protects against a bacteria that can cause meningitis in young children.

Beginning this school year (2008-09) there are two additional vaccines that will be newly required in Oregon:

1. Seventh graders need one dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine if it has been five years since receiving their last tetanus containing vaccine.

2. One dose of Hepatitis A vaccine is now required to start childcare, preschool, Head Start and kindergarten.

Any student who attends a public or private school, preschool, childcare facility or Head Start program is required to have vaccines to stay enrolled. Only those youth who have a religious or medical reason for not being vaccinated are exempt.

Parents can call their child’s health care provider to schedule an appointment or they can call the Deschutes County Health Department at 322-7400 to make an immunization appointment.