Immunize for School: Vital parenting information from Eyewitness News

Just because you're little one is growing up, doesn't mean they're finished with vaccinations. They need them to get into school. It's time to enroll for kindergarten, and to do that you need proof of vaccinations-- DPT, Polio, MMR and Hepititis B-- official forms from your doctor. It's the law. Pediatrician Dr. Joe Matusic says West Virginia has some of the lowest rates of those illnesses in the country. But there is only one way around them.

Dr. Joe Matusic
If you have a legitimate medical reason, you've reacted to that vaccine you don't have to get that vaccine. Otherwise you're required to get the vaccines.

A new requirement includes the chicken pox vaccine.

Dr. Joe Matusic
It's now required all kids get the chicken pox vaccine before going into school. That usually means kindergarten. But that also means a 3rd or 4th grader coming in from out of state.

You'll also need another form for school. That's where the check up, done at your child's 4th or 5th year well child visit comes in. A quick health overview.

Dr. Joe Matusic
That form just basically says this child is healthy and ready for school. Then there's a vaccine certificate. It should be green. It's a state supplied form that says this child has had all he required vaccinations for school.

And telling your school age child why they're getting the vaccinations can be a good way to start talking about what they can expect on the first day of school, to take away some of the first day jitters... even if the first day is months or weeks away.

It's also, at this time, recommended, not required that all school aged children have the influenza vaccine as they head to school.