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Health Net Reminds California Parents, Schools about New Immunization Requirements

^{Published on 2011-08-22 08:37:04 - Market Wire}
 

LOS ANGELES--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and as the new school year approaches, [ Health Net ], Inc. (NYSE:HNT) reminds California parents and schools that all students entering grades 7 through 12 are required to have a pertussis (whooping cough) booster vaccine called Tdap.

"The Tdap vaccine positively affects the entire community"

aTdap and other booster shots help keep children healthy and prevent outbreaks of serious illnesses,a said Jennifer Nuovo, M.D., senior medical director for Health Net of California. aThe vaccinations for teenagers protect the youngest and the oldest by keeping these viruses away from babies and the elderly. And healthy children tend to do better in school and keep their own families healthy, too.a

In California, the new school-entry requirement for Tdap applies to all students a" current, new and transfers a" in both public and private schools. Exemptions apply for personal beliefs or medical reasons.

The whooping cough has reached epidemic proportions in California. It is a highly contagious and serious disease. It causes severe coughing attacks and could lead to death. Many children with pertussis are kept out of school until the disease is treated. The Tdap vaccine helps prevent such outbreaks.

aThe Tdap vaccine positively affects the entire community,a said Catherine Martin, executive director of the California Immunization Coalition. aIt helps to reduce the rate of pertussis infection among adolescents and adults, which, in turn, helps to protect infants who are too young to have received their first vaccination, which helps safeguard the general public health.a

Vaccination Tips

Here are some tips to help parents make sure their children are protected from diseases:

• Keep a record of your childa™s immunizations and the dates they were received. This record is essential for school entry. Ask your doctor for this record. Take it with you each time your child has an appointment. Keep your childa™s record in a safe place.
• If you do not have a doctor, low-cost or free immunizations are administered at local county health departments.
• In addition to the Tdap booster vaccine, children under 18 years old need the following vaccines to help stay healthy and to gain admission into school: polio (called the IPV vaccine); diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (called the DTaP vaccine for children under 7); hepatitis B; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); and varicella (Var). Exemptions apply for personal beliefs or medical reasons. Ask your doctor which vaccines are needed for each school level.
• Find a complete listing of recommended childhood immunizations online at National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseasea™s [ Instant Childhood Immunization Scheduler ].

As a reminder

The information provided is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice of your physician or other health provider for any questions you may have regarding your medical condition and follow your health care providera™s instructions.

About Health Net

Health Net, Inc. is among the nationa™s largest publicly traded managed health care companies. Its mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable. The companya™s health plans and government contracts subsidiaries provide and administer health benefits to approximately 6.0million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid and United States Department of Defense, including TRICARE and Veterans Affairs programs. Health Neta™s behavioral health subsidiary, MHN, provides mental health benefits to approximately 5.0 million individuals in all 50 states. The companya™s subsidiaries also offer managed health care products related to prescription drugs, and offer managed health care product coordination for multi-region employers and administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits programs.

For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit the companya™s website at [ www.healthnet.com ].