Doing some personal research...wanted to know if a school nurse could help?

[justme1972]

Question #1: I need to identify the purpose of the following immunizations...for some reason, an internet search proved futile:

DT DTzP5

IPV 3 OPV 4

Question #2: If the series of shots has been started on time, and the child remains on schedule...does the series have to be completed before a child is medically protected?

Question 3#: What is your school or county's policy on children attending pre-K programs that are not compulsary, if a child is mid-series...does the series have to be completed before a child can stay in school?

Thanks!

[Jolie, BSN]

For information on vaccines, contact your local health department and ask to speak to the person in charge of the vaccination program. In our area, that is an NP, and she is a wealth of information. Much more up-to-date and informative than anyone in my kids' pediatrician's office.

Are you back to doing homework? I sincerely hope so :)

As for the IPV at dose #3 and then OPV for dose #4, it is my understanding that IPV is used for at least the first 2-3 doses, as it cannot transmit polio. It is an injection and is more expensive and traumatic than the OPV, so some practices switch over to OPV for the 3rd and/or 4th doses. Since the child will likely have developed some degree of immunity to polio from the first 2-3 doses o IPV, giving OPV for the 3rd and/or 4th dose is unlikely to cause an active case of polio.

[camprn1]

This is the best site I have found for the type of info you are asking about.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htm