New immunization requirements became effective July 1. 2007, for some students attending school in Georgia.  The new requirements are primarily for students entering pre-K, kindergarten, and sixth-grade.  The new requirements will also be in effect for students who are re-enrolling in a Georgia school this year after being away for one year or more.  Parents of all other students will be encouraged to consider the additional vaccines to help protect their children against these particular vaccine-preventable diseases.

• Pre-K Requirements:  If your child is under five years of age, the child must have protection against pneumococcal disease.  The Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV) vaccine will be need before beginning pre-K .
  
  
• Kindergarten Requirements:  If your child was enrolled in a four-year-old Pre-K program and has a certificate marked as “Complete for School,” second doses of varicella and mumps vaccines may be needed.  The second doses must be listed on the child’s Georgia Certificate of Immunization upon entry to school.
  
  
• Sixth-grade Requirements:  Students entering the sixth-grade are required to have two doses of Measles vaccine, two doses of Mumps vaccine, and one dose of Rubella vaccine or laboratory proof of immunity against Measles, Mumps or Rubella.  Two doses of Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine or documentation of disease or proof of immunity will also be required.  At the time of entering school only one dose of the Varicella vaccine was required.

Current students enrolled in other grade levels in Floyd County Schools will not be required to meet these new requirements.  However, students enrolled below the level of sixth-grade will have to meet the requirements before entering sixth-grade.  Please contact your health care provider to receive needed vaccinations and to obtain the Georgia Certificate of Immunization.

The links below specific immunization requirements from the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

Pre-K/Kindergarten Requirements
Sixth-grade Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the New Rules