"The 3-shot hepatitis B series takes 4-6 months to complete. Children need to start their shots now to finish time for next school year," said Dr. Payne. "We do not want to experience the last minute anxiety as we did last fall when parents waited until the last minute. Some children were even excluded from classrooms until they got their shots."

This week, Stanislaus County is participating in Preteen Vaccine Week, January 17-23. The purpose of this statewide observance is to alert families and health care providers that 6th graders must begin the 3-shot hepatitis B series in January if they have not already begun.

"Last fall, only 66% of students in Stanislaus County had completed all three hepatitis B shots," explained Dr. Payne. "This left 34% of children who had not finished the series and needed more shots after school started. Student compliance for the second MMR was significantly better with a 97% rate of completion."

Most eleven and twelve year-olds in California have health insurance that typically covers immunizations," explained Rose Ann Peterson, Immunization Coordinator for Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA). We are working with local physicians and health plans during Preteen Vaccine Week to make sure they get the urgent message to their preteen patients that it's time for more immunizations. This is also a time that physicians may provide other important preventive health care services to their preteen patients."

Most people with hepatitis B acquire the infection as adolescents or young adults. Hepatitis B is caused by a highly infectious virus that attacks the liver. It can cause serious liver problems such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine has proven highly effective and safe.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that for each unvaccinated cohort of adolescents in the United States, 160,000 will become infected with the virus, 10,000 will acquire chronic infections, and 1,400 will die.

6th Graders Need to Begin Their Immunizations Now

Hepatitis B shots are also required for children attending childcare or entering kindergarten in California. Most 6 th graders have not received the hepatitis B vaccine because it has only been a routine infant immunizations since 1991. However, a portion of these 6th graders have been immunized, as the vaccine has been available since 1982.

Parents should also be aware that California Immunization Laws incorporate a personal belief exemption," advised Dr. Payne. "If getting immunizations are against your religious or personal beliefs, you are free to sign an exemption waiver at your child's school. The school will keep a record of this exemption and your child may be excluded from school during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak."

Parents who would like more information on the 7th grade school immunization requirements, or locations where children can get immunizations, should contact their doctor, school nurse, or the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Immunization Clinic at (209) 558-4818.