The Upshot: Back to School, Pneumococcal Vaccine and more

Prepping for Back to School

Summer brings travel, adventure and moments cherished with family and friends. Summer is also when families and parents should start thinking about the next school year and the Texas vaccine requirements.  

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) provides information on the required vaccines to keep children from kindergarten through 12 grade healthy, happy and prepared for their education.

To help residents keep track of their vaccination records, DSHS maintains the Texas Immunization Registry (ImmTrac2). ImmTrac2 keeps vaccination records for people who have opted into the registry.

For children aged 17 and under, the minor consent form is required to enroll in ImmTrac2, which remains valid until the age of 18. Young adults who want to preserve their childhood immunization records have to complete an adult consent form if they want their data preserved. Adults must sign a consent form before they turn 26 to keep the data from being permanently deleted.

In addition, all ages must also submit a disaster consent form to retain all COVID-19 vaccinations administered during the public health emergency event. Unless this disaster consent form is signed and submitted to the registry, those immunizations will not be included on their official immunization history record.

For additional resources on back to school vaccination, check with the city and/or county health department.

• 2-1-1 Texas is a toll-free number that provides information on health and social services
• DSHS toll-free at: (800) 252-9152 or email us at PiET@dshs.texas.gov

More Resources:

Texas Minimum State Vaccination Requirements for College Entry

Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Childcare Facilities

Vaccine Information Statements (VIS)

VIS forms available in multiple languages

Raising Pneumococcal Vaccine Awareness According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Streptococcus pneuomoniae is a bacterium that can cause pneumococcal disease, from mild illnesses like sinus infections to severe illnesses like meningitis. Common symptoms include fever, cough, chest pain and difficulty breathing. The pneumococcal vaccine is highly recommended to prevent the spread of this bacteria which can spread quickly in crowded settings through respiratory droplets. The CDC recommends that children under 2 years of age be given the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15 or PCV20) in four doses, given at two, four, six and 12-15 months. Adults 65 years and older are advised to receive a single dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). People with certain medical conditions may require additional amounts or a booster shot. If they have not been previously vaccinated, catch-up doses of the vaccine are safe and recommended. To learn more about the pneumococcal vaccine, visit the CDC website: Pneumococcal Vaccination | CDC.

Keep Mom and Babies Safe

For pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding, some vaccines are considered safe for mothers or babies. Mothers may receive some routine vaccines, as infants are not able to receive certain vaccines like the Influenza (flu) until they are at least six months old. The mother transfers antibodies to the infant through pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

According to the CDC, recommended routine vaccines during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding:

• Flu
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

Vaccines that are recommended be postpone until after baby is weened:

• Yellow fever
• Chickenpox
• Nasal spray flu vaccines

Remember to always consult with your health care provider for the best vaccination plan.

National Immunization Awareness Month

August is fast approaching and so is the National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). Hosted by the CDC, the goal of NIAM is to educate the public about the vaccines available to prevent diseases such as:

• Polio
• Tetanus
• Influenza (flu)
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Rubella
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Measles
• Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
• Pneumococcal Disease
• Rotavirus
• Mumps
• Chickenpox
• Diphtheria
• Meningococcal Disease