Docs Say Add Immunization Shots to Back to School List

KYW Newsradio Team Coverage

With the first day of school around the corner, it's important that students, especially those headed off to college, visit their doctor to get caught up on immunization shots.

KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough reports that those shots include the Menococcal vaccine, a T-Dap booster, an HPV vaccine is recommended for young women as well as flu shots. And remember we might be thinking of H1N1 as well.

In addition you have to be concerned about other things. For instance, do you have emergency numbers? What about specific situations for first aid. What sort of medication can you take or not take.   All of these questions have to be addressed as a family and then the school needs to know the information.

It also might be worth your while to call the school's health office and find out what their policies are.

KYW's Michelle Durham reports that Delaware Valley pediatricians are doing all they can to educate parents about swine flu before their kids enter the classroom.

Dr. Gary Emmett (below right) is director of hospital pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He says the fact that swine flu never really left the area over the summer is a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, he says, it sickened a number of kids in summer camps, but on the other hand it has the attention of parents:

"The one good thing about H1N1 -- and I won't say there is anything really good about it -- is that parents are much more willing to get a flu shot for their children than before this happened."

So, as the kids come in for their checkups before school starts, what are he and other physicians saying to parents?

"You have to talk to parents with children with asthma and other chronic illnesses every time they come in and remind them that if they are well enough to get a flu shot that day, get it that day."

And if not, he adds, come back as soon as possible to get one.

Dr. Emmett says don't skip the regular flu shot for your children in lieu of the H1N1 inoculation. They need to get both this year.