State extends deadline for student immunizations

Posted Monday, Aug. 24, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN -- Texas health officials are giving students a little more time to get all their required vaccines.

The Texas Department of State Health Services issued an emergency rule on Monday extending the deadline for required immunizations until Oct. 1. Without the extension, students without all vaccines are typically turned away from schools.

The extension applies only to the shots for meningococcal, tetanus and varicella. Pocket shortages of those vaccines have been reported around the state.

Last spring, health officials added required doses of those vaccines at certain grade levels. Health department spokesman Doug McBride says it appears some doctors and clinics didn’t order enough of the vaccines.

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