NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Some children in Metro Nashville will be kept out of school Monday because they have not gotten required vaccinations.
The children will not be allowed back into classes until their parents can show proof they have all the required shots.
Last year, the Tennessee Department of Health changed vaccination requirements for all school aged children. The changes mostly affect kindergartners and seventh graders.
Students entering kindergarten must have two doses of a Hepatitis A vaccine and an additional dose of a Varicella vaccine, the immunization against chicken pox.
Seventh graders must have an additional Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster (Tdap) if it has been more than five years since their last dose.
Makita Nation's son is in kindergarten and was required to get two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine.
"You do not want your child going to school and catching something from someone else," Nation said. "Runny noses and fevers stuff like that are very common."
Shalena Odom's son is in high school. She said keeping students up to date on vaccinations also helps parents avoid losing time at work.
"That could hurt the mom or parents if [their kids] have to be out, when the kid cannot go to school or possibly have to stay home from school," she said.
Odom continued, "I know that was important for me not to miss work."
The Metro Public Health Department will open its Fast Lane clinic on Monday and Tuesday to help children get vaccinated.
Health officials will have as many as five nurses offering the required immunizations. Similar clinics this summer have drawn hundreds of children with their parents.
The Fast Lane clinic will be held in the auditorium at the Lentz Public Health Center located at 311 23rd Avenue North.
The clinic will be open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. both days.
