Immunizations Required For Kindergarteners and 7th Graders

Tennessee requires students to be immunized in order to participate in a public school.

White County Coordinated School Health Director Marcie Kinnard said with most classes starting around the Upper Cumberland, it is a good time to remind parents what is needed.

“If your child is entering kindergarten you need to have them up-to-date for kindergarten shots,” Kinnard said. “That includes having completed Hepatitis B, DTaP, Polio, MMR, Varicella and Hepatitis A series.”

Kinnard said seventh graders are also required a booster shot for Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis also known as Whooping Cough. Kinnard said students have until two weeks after school starts to turn in proof of immunization.

“We were not immune to Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis like we thought, so Whooping Cough was making its comeback, so they developed the Tdap,” Kinnard said. “It is a one-time deal for seventh graders. It just gives added immunity.”

Kinnard said parents can do this by visiting their primary care provider to get a immunization certificate. Kinnard said local health departments can also vaccinate and provide paperwork.