"Starting kindergarten traditionally means a stop at the doctor’s office for a check up and school boosters," said Health Officer Dr. John Walker. "This coming year children will need to get a varicella (chickenpox) shot, as well as the usual boosters for other diseases."

The new requirement applies to all children entering public or private schools as well as children in child care. If a child already had chickenpox (the disease), they just need the doctor to indicate this on their Immunization Record and that will meet the entry requirement.

"Although parents often think of chickenpox as just a common childhood disease and a nuisance, it actually can lead to very serious complications. Before the vaccine was available, a child died nearly every week in the US from chickenpox complications, and thousands were hospitalized," Dr. Walker explained. "The new requirement will save children the pain and suffering of chickenpox, plus it will reduce absenteeism."

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency is conducting special Varicella immunization clinics April 28 and May 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Health Department 820 Scenic Drive Modesto. A fee of $10 will be charged. Medi-Cal is accepted. Children 18 years of age or younger who are eligible for Medi-Cal or Child Health Disability Prevention Program (CHDP) are automatically eligible for vaccines. No children will be denied based on inability to pay.

Chickenpox is spread through the air as well as through contact with chickenpox blisters. In the pre-vaccine era chickenpox spread rapidly between children in the same school classroom.

California school immunization requirements for most kindergarteners are a total of 5 DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) shots, 4 polio shots, 3 hepatitis B shots, 2 MMR shots, and 1 varicella shot. Children attending child care also must meet immunization requirements for their age. Medical and personal beliefs exemptions are available for children who cannot be immunized or whose parents are opposed to immunizations.

Clinicians from the Stanislaus County Health Services are available to provide information and perform interviews explaining the new vaccine and the requirements.

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA) is an outpatient medical system with 9 medical offices located throughout Stanislaus County. The HSA operates the Public Health Department, an Urgent Care Center and multiple programs serving over 400,000 patients and clients each year in Stanislaus County. The HSA also is in local partnerships for the MOMobile project and the Stanislaus Family Practice Residency Program. The HSA has extensive community health information available at its web site www.hsahealth.org