If you haven't already done so, it's time to get those required immunizations for your child. • Show up for the first day of school without them, and chances are your child will be sent home or spend the day in the school clinic. Not fun. • To get them, you'll need to make an appointment pronto at your child's pediatrician or pay a visit to the Pasco County Health Department, where immunizations are administered for free. All that is asked is that you bring your child's immunization record with you. • The Health Department also offers annual (well) physicals for $25 and sports physicals for $30. You might also want to check with your child's school to see if any local physicians are offering physicals at a discount price. Fees typically run about $10.
Pasco County Health Department Family Service Clinics
Hudson
11511 Denton Ave.
(727) 863-2444
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
New Port Richey
10841 Little Road
(727) 861-5260
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Land O'Lakes
4135 Land O'Lakes Blvd.
(813) 558-5173
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to noon; 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday.
Dade City
13941 15th St.
(352) 521-1450
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.
(Walk-ins for sports physicals will be during normal hours Aug. 11 and 14.)
Zephyrhills
4717 Airport Road
(813) 782-1740
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. (Closed the third Thursday of the month.) Walk-ins for sports physicals are Aug. 11 and 14 during normal office hours.
Immunization requirements
Pre-K (age-appropriate doses as indicated ):
• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine
• Polio vaccine
• MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Varicella vaccine (or date of disease)
• Haemophilus influenzae Type B (Hib) vaccine
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (effective Jan. 1 for children ages 2 to 59 months)
Kindergarten:
• Four or five doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine
• Three or four doses of polio vaccine
• Two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine
• Hepatitis B series
• Two doses of varicella vaccine (effective school year 2008-09)
1st- through 6th-grade students:
• Four or five doses DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus)
• Three or four doses polio vaccine (IPV, OPV)
• Two doses MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Hepatitis B series
• One dose of varicella vaccine or date of disease (year) as verified by parent or physician
7th- through 12th-grade students:
• Four or five doses DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus)
• Three or four doses polio vaccine (IPV, OPV)
• Two doses MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Hepatitis B series
• One dose Td (tetanus, diphtheria) or Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis
7th grade only:
• One dose varicella or date of disease
Immunization waivers
Students who are enrolling, and who have previously attended school in Florida, are granted a 30-day grace period for their previous records to arrive. Schools will have them complete a "30-day waiver" form. The parent or guardian signs a statement agreeing that if the information from the other record turns out to be incomplete, they will get the needed immunizations for their child.
Note: 30-day waivers are not applicable for first-time enrollees (i.e., kindergarten or pre-k) or Grade 7.
Homeless students are the only exception to this rule. Florida statute gives homeless students a 30-day grace period to comply.
Physicals
A physical exam report completed within one year before enrollment is required for any student who has never attended school in Florida in the past, i.e., kindergarten and out-of-state transfers. Homeless students are the only exception to this rule. Florida statute gives homeless students a 30-day grace period to comply.
The physical:
• Must include components of a general health examination.
• May be verified on any form, no specific legal requirements.
• May be completed and signed by any licensed health professional: physician (MD), osteopath (DO), physician's assistant (PA), advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) or chiropractor.
• Must be within one calendar year prior to enrollment.
• May be from any state in the United States.
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