More Than Half of Nashville Seventh-Graders Lack Required Vaccines

More than half of Metro seventh-graders are in danger of being barred from school for out-of-date vaccination records.

Metro Nashville Public Schools says that of the district's 4,984 seventh-grade students, 2,604 - a little more than 52 percent - lack update immunization records which, per a change to state law made three years ago, could keep them out of class.

Last year, 54 percent of seventh-graders began school without proof of the required shots, but only 130 were kept out of class by the deadline.

Seventh-graders are required to show proof of a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster and a second dose of chicken pox vaccine by Friday or they will not be allowed to return to school Monday morning.

Health department officials implored parents to get their children a full battery of immunizations, noting that Memphis had more cases of measles than the entire rest of the United States combined during an outbreak of the disease there in the spring.

The health department offers immunization shots at three of its clinics: Lentz at 2500 Charlotte Avenue, Woodbine at 224 Oriel Avenue and the East Center at 1015 East Trinity Lane. All are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m with Woodbine open until 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Appointments are not required but walk-in patients are required to sign-in by 3:30 p.m. at all three Public Health Centers or by 5:30 on Thursday at Woodbine.

Image via Shutterstock