NEW IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDRENEFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007New state immunization requirements to help protect children from preventable childhood diseases have been announced, according to Northwest Georgia Public Health Immunization Coordinator Marie Smith. The new requirements go into effect July 1, 2007 and include two new required vaccines and additional doses of two existing required vaccines, according to Smith.TWO NEW VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDREN AGE 5 AND UNDERPCV which helps protect against bacterial diseases that can cause serious illness, including meningitis, will be required for all children less than 5 years of age who are attending childcare facilities, Head Start or Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) programs. Hepatitis A vaccine, which helps protect children against a serious form of liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus, is required for all children born on or after January 1, 2006 and who are enrolled in any school, childcare facility, Head Start or Pre-K program.Laboratory proof of immunity will be accepted in lieu of the hepatitis A vaccine requirement.ADDITIONAL DOSES ADDED FOR KINDERGARTEN, 6TH GRADE AND NEW ENTRANTS TO GEORGIA SCHOOLSChildren entering Kindergarten, 6th Grade and new entrants into any grade K through 12 must 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. These children must also have two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or documentation of disease or laboratory proof of immunity. At the time your child entered school, only one dose of this vaccine was required. A new entrant is defined as any child entering any school or facility in Georgia for the first time or after having been absent from a Georgia facility for more than 12months or one school year. Contact your health care provider or the Chattooga County Health Department at 706-857—3471 to receive any needed vaccinations, to obtain the Georgia Certificate of Immunization or for more information about immunizations.