"Would you lift up your sleeve for me buddy," instructs nurse Tina Gibson. The Bell County Public Health District Immunization Program Coordinator is immunizing 9-year-old Latre Byrd and his siblings.
"There are some new requirements in the State of Texas," Gibson explains. "For instance, all seventh, eighth and ninth graders have to have an additional three vaccines. Where as also kindergarten, first and second grade are also required to have three new vaccines."
Kindergartners to second graders now need second doses of the Chicken Pox vaccine and the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine. They also need the vaccine for Hepatitis A.
Seventh to ninth graders need a booster shot, the Tetanus, Diphtheria and Perutussis vaccine, as well as the new Meningitis vaccine. They will also need the Chicken Pox vaccine if they haven't already gotten it.
Getting vaccines isn't fun for the patient, but the Scott and White Children's Hospital Medical Director of Community General Pediatrics says they are necessary since school children are at high risk of contracting diseases.
"They share books, they share toys, they share close quarters, and most diseases are spread by hand to mouth," says Dr. Robert Burke. "Vaccines are probably the most important advance we've made in medicine in decades and there are literally millions of kids who are alive and who's lives are better because they had vaccines," he adds.
If you take your child to the Bell County Public Health District, it will cost $10 for one vaccination and $15 for two or more. In McLennan County, it costs $10 for in-county residents and $14.50 for out-of-county residents. And to expedite the process, nurses recommend you bring your child's shot records.
Reporter: Ashley Goudeau / Photographer: Carlos Ramirez
