Katelyn Markward, a pharmarcist with Mercy Health-St. Rita’s, provides the COVID-19 vaccine to Caitlin Wiedenbuin, of Buckland, during an immunization clinic held in Lima in 2021.
File photo | The Lima News
LIMA — All incoming 7th graders for the 2022-2023 school year are required by the state of Ohio to have one dose of both a Tdap and Meningitis (MCV4) vaccine for entry into the 7th grade. There are other vaccines that are equally important and recommended.
Tdap vaccine protects against three diseases with one dose. Tetanus causes painful muscle spasms, usually all over the body. Diphtheria causes breathing problems, and could cause death. Pertussis (Whooping Cough) can be a very serious disease, as it causes severe coughing spells and can cause death. Pertussis is spread through the air and is highly contagious. It is most commonly spread to infants from teens and adults that are close to them.
MCV4 (Meningitis) vaccine protects against four strains of Meningitis (A, C, W, Y). Meningitis is spread by coughing and sneezing of infected secretions. Teens are at increased risk for this bacterial infection because of their social behaviors. Meningitis can kill a healthy person in less than 48 hours. Survivors can have serious problems that last the rest of their lives.
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine is a two dose series that protects against HPV disease. Four out of five unvaccinated people will get HPV in their lifetime. The vaccine protects males and females against related cancers and genital warts. There is a better immune response when given at this age.
All incoming 12th graders for the 2022-2023 school year are required to have had two doses of Meningitis vaccine for entry into 12th grade. However, if they did not receive the 7th grade dose and this is their first dose, a second dose would not be required.
Another important vaccine to include is: Meningitis B – two dose series protects against one additional strain (B) of Meningitis. This vaccine protects against the other common strain of Meningitis in the US.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-2422-0409
