The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is urging parents to act now and schedule their child’s age-appropriate immunizations before summer is over. Mississippi state law requires children to be immunized against childhood diseases to enter public or private school, Head Start or daycare.
Children entering a Mississippi school (from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade) for the first time are required to have had the following vaccinations:
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
Polio (IPV)
Hepatitis B
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
Chickenpox (Varicella)
If your child is entering the seventh grade, either by advancing or transferring in, a pertussis (Tdap) booster is now required if they have not received a Tdap vaccination since the age of seven.
Vaccinations are available from the health department clinic in any county, or from your medical provider.
Parents can make an appointment at the county health department clinic to bring their child in for required immunizations. A list of county health department locations along with times and days the clinics are open can be found at www.HealthyMS.com/locations.
Parents should bring the child’s social security card and insurance card if available. Parents and children over 2 must wear a mask when entering the county health department clinic.
For more information on immunizations, visit www.HealthyMS.com/immunizations.
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