Required Vaccinations Throughout the Years
Children entering kindergarten need six vaccines.
- DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis)
- polio
- MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
- hepatitis A
- hepatitis B
- varicella, also known as chickenpox
Once a child reaches seventh grade, three more vaccines come into play: a Tdap booster, the meningococcal conjugate vaccine and the HPV vaccine.
HPV stands out from other required vaccines because it prevents cervical cancer in women and other cancers in men and women. Doctors recommend giving it early, before a young person becomes sexually active, since the vaccine works best before any exposure to the virus. Parents in Virginia can opt out after reading required information about the vaccine.
By 12th grade, students need a second dose of the meningococcal vaccine to keep that protection strong.
Immunity from a vaccine does not last forever, Jaberi said.
“The natural course of immunity that is engendered by these vaccinations, a person’s immune system is ramped up, ready to fight, but over time that immunity wanes,” Jaberi explained.
Tdap needs a repeat dose at least every five years for many people. He also noted that pregnant women and grandparents around infants should stay current on Tdap, since newborns are too young to be vaccinated and rely on the adults around them to avoid catching an illness.
Where to Get Vaccinated
Primary care doctors remain the first stop for most families, but their offices can get booked solid during back-to-school season.
“The one advantage the Health Department provides is we have all the vaccines at all the times, and we have a little bit more flexibility in how we can move the vaccines around across the many different sites in Fairfax County,” Jaberi said.
Starting Friday, July 31, the Health Department will offer extended hours through Aug. 21 at its four public health centers, located in Herndon-Reston, Annandale, Franconia-Springfield and Mount Vernon. Walk-ins are welcome, while appointments can be scheduled.
A federal program called Vaccines for Children covers kids without health insurance.
Bring vaccine records, especially if your child is coming from another state or country. If records are in another language, Health Department staff can help translate or verify them with a known interpreter.
The Bottom Line
Jaberi compared getting vaccinated to buying an insurance policy. Most people who regret skipping it only realize the mistake after it is too late.
“Oftentimes, people who regret not getting them [vaccines] is after the fact, when it is too late,” he said. “We just want to avoid that for the individual as well as the safety of the community.”
Side effects like a sore arm or mild fever are common and normal. Serious complications are rare, and the CDC and FDA track any concerns through a system called VAERS, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a national early warning system that collects and analyzes reports of health problems following vaccination in the United States.
To find Fairfax County Health Department clinic hours, schedules, or more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health, or call 703-246-7100.
The County Conversation Podcast
The “County Conversation” is a podcast featuring employees and subject matter experts from the Fairfax County Government discussing programs, services and items of interest to residents of Fairfax County. Listen to past episodes of “County Conversation.” Listen to other Fairfax County podcasts or additional audio content at Fairfax County Government Radio.
SIGN UP FOR DAILY EMAIL HEADLINES