CHARLESTON COUNTY, SC — The South Carolina Department of Public Health sets new immunization standards for schools and child care centers every year.
The DPH has changed the vaccination rules for all schools in the state.
Amanda Santamaria, who is in charge of nursing services for Dorchester School District Two, said, “Almost every time they add a new requirement for a certain dose or a specific vaccine, they give a certain number of years before it’ll be a requirement for all students.”
The age limit for getting the Hepatitis A vaccine has been raised. Now, 4th graders need to get two shots.
Teenagers in the tenth grade need to get two shots of chickenpox, and now 12th graders also need to get a polio shot after they turn four. “And now you have to get a Hepatitis A shot in fourth grade too,” said Marsha Glatt, who is in charge of immunizations for the Charleston County School District.
The person in charge of vaccines for CCSD can give free shots to kids at school.
“The parents will sign a consent form and answer the test questions on it. Then I’ll come out and pick up the student from class.” “I’ll give them a shot, and then they can go back to class,” Glatt said.
Berkeley County School District is getting ready for the school year. Also, kids must get permission from their parents before they can take any medication, prescription or not.
The students can get their shots from their general care doctors and pediatricians. They need to have an up-to-date record in their web portals or go back to school in person.