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Hepatitis B Vaccination Required for 7th Graders in CaliforniaAmerican Liver Foundation: Thousands of Children may not be Able to Enter 7th Grade on July 1st |
SourceAmerican Liver Foundation ForumsHealth, Safety, Nutrition and KidsRelated ArticlesParent's Back-to-School List Should Include HealthVaccine Protection: Adolescents Falling Through the Cracks Information and news releases furnished by the members of PR Newswire, who are responsible for their fact and content. |
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 30, 1998 -- Starting July 1, 1999 there is new legislation (Health and Safety Code Section 120335) which will require hepatitis B immunization for entrance to seventh grade in both public and private schools. An estimated 465,414 California children will be graduating from the sixth grade this year, a surprising 80% have not been immunized, and may not be able to enter the seventh grade to start school, according to requirements of the law. "The problem is getting the word out to parents", explains Scott Suckow, Director of the American Liver Foundation, Northern California. "If parents are not informed prior to the start of the school year, they risk the chance of not being able to get their child vaccinated in time to start school. The medical community is not equipped to handle the over 370,000 children who need to be vaccinated all at once, which is what could happen if parents are not informed", Suckow goes on to explain. The Immunization Branch of the California Department of Health Services, California Medical Association and the American Liver Foundation have joined together to promote this new legislation. Why Should Children be Vaccinated for Hepatitis B: The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all newborns, infants, children and sexually active teenagers be vaccinated against hepatitis B. Exposure to infected blood from a cut, nosebleed or a shared razor, toothbrush or hypodermic needle can be enough to infect an unprotected child or adult. Immunization can provide protection against hepatitis B for 10 and possible 20 years. Three injections are required. The second injection is given one month after the first and the third injection six months after the first dose. The vaccine is given in the thigh muscle or upper arm. It should not be given in the buttocks. How Will Hepatitis B Harm You: The liver is responsible for over 5,000 vital life sustaining function. When hepatitis virus damages a liver cell, scar tissue is formed and the cell can no longer function. With fewer healthy liver cells to carry on their important work many body functions can be affected. The fist sign may be only fatigue. However, other problems related to digesting food, resisting infections, storing energy, prolonged bleeding or riddling the body of harmful toxins found in alcohol, drugs, bug sprays, and other pollutants may occur. When the liver is severely damaged the body may retain fluid and mental confusion may occur. Prevention can save lives. CONTACT: Scott Suckow of the American Liver Foundation, 415-984-3169; or Paul Deaver of the CA Department of Health, Immunization Branch, 510-540-2412 |
