If yes, he or she may need a booster dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis). Sixth grade students cannot begin school in the fall without documentation of having had either the Tdap booster OR documentation of having had a tetanus-containing vaccine within the past five years. Parents and guardians of current fifth graders should check their children’s immunization records.
� If your child is 11 years old, he or she should get the Tdap immunization, and documentation should be provided to the school.
� If your child is still 10 years old, he or she may receive the Tdap vaccine, Boostrix, which is approved for 10-year-olds, or you may wait until the 11 th birthday to receive the vaccine approved for 11-yearolds.
� If your child’s 11th birthday is after the first day of school, your child must have a medical exemption from the doctor stating when he or she will receive the Tdap immunization in order to attend school.
Documentation that your student has received this immunization should be brought to the school’s office. Fairfax County Public Schools tracks compliance for this state requirement, and students who do not meet the requirement by the first day of school will be excluded from school.
Students can receive immunizations required for school at no charge at any Fairfax County Health Department walk-in immunization clinic.
Visit Health Department website for walk in clinic hours
The school public health nurse may alos be contacted for more information about the health department clinic hours.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Donaldson, health and home instruction specialist,
Student Registration at 571-423-4402 or elizabeth.donaldson@fcps.edu .