Writer New student immunization changes have health officials needling parents to get on the stick. Children who have had chicken pox do not need to be immunized.
Parents can write a letter to the school stating when their child had the disease.
The vaccine was previously required for children entering kindergarten. The hepatitis B immunization requires three shots over a six-month period. Children with proof of a previous hepatitis B infection do not need to be vaccinated. Robillard advises parents that waiting until a day or two before school starts in mid-August will land them in long waiting lines. The Abilene Independent School District begins classes Aug. 14.