• By Tony Lo Giudice
• Posted Thursday, June 11, 2020

2020 NEW LAW CHANGES FOR CHILDREN ATTENDING NC PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Forsyth County Department of Public Health is available to make sure your children will be prepared for the 2020 Immunization Law change, which requires all high school seniors to receive a booster dose of MCV4 for school entry.

Starting August 1, 2020, all 12th graders will be required to receive a booster dose of Meningococcal vaccine in order to attend school. Each student must submit a Certificate of Immunization with documentation of receiving this immunization on their first day of attendance. Children should have their immunizations up to date on the first day of school, and those that do not by the 30th day will be suspended. Immunizations are important to protect your children against diseases that can be life threatening. It's also important to vaccinate your children to help protect those who cannot be vaccinated.

"Vaccinations are very important and are a vital component of public health. They protect against diseases and serious illnesses that still exist," says Joshua Swift, Forsyth County’s Public Health Director.

Also, according to the NC Law, kindergarten and seventh graders will be required as well to have specific vaccines to protect them from serious diseases.

Kindergartners will be required to have a physical exam:

• A dose of Polio and Dtap Vaccine after age 4
• Two doses of Varicella (Chickenpox) and MMR vaccine

Seventh graders will be required to have:

• A booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)
• One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV)

Individuals entering the Twelfth (12th) grade or 17 years of age will be required to have:

• One booster dose of Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV)

Get your child's shots now--Don't wait! Make sure your child has all required vaccinations before the beginning of the school year.
Come to Clinic 3 (Immunization Clinic) at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health at 799 N. Highland Avenue, Winston-Salem, during the following hours:

• Monday – Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

The Immunization Clinic offers both appointments and walk-ins. Please bring your cloth face mask to wear when entering the building. Children with no insurance or Medicaid pay no out of pocket fees for immunizations. We do not accept private insurance.

For additional information, regarding the New Immunization Law Change, please visit: https://immunize.nc.gov/schools/resourcesforschools.htm