Nurse's Office

Parent Reminder of Virginia Immunization Requirement for Tdap Vaccine

Prior to reporting to school, every Diocese of Arlington Catholic School student entering the sixth grade during the 2008-09 school year is required to receive a booster dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine if at least five years have passed since the last dose of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine (DTP, DTaP, DT, or Td) was administered.

According to Virginia law, sixth grade students cannot begin school in the fall without documentation of having had the Tdap booster or having had a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine within the past five years.

Students who are 11 years old should get the Tdap immunization, and documentation should be provided to the school as soon as possible. If the student is still 10 years old, check with the physician to see if Boostrix is being used. If not, the student may need to wait until his or her 11th birthday to receive the immunization. In this case, if the 11th birthday is after the first day of school, the student must have a medical exemption note from the doctor stating when the student is scheduled to receive the Tdap vaccine. This medical exemption must be provided to the school prior to the first day of school.

The Tdap booster vaccine can be obtained from a physician¢s office or from the Fairfax County Health Department. Fairfax County Health Department clinics will administer the vaccine at no charge on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the following locations:

Falls Church Clinic, 6245 Leesburg Pike, Suite 500, Falls Church, 703-534-8343
Herndon-Reston Clinic, 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Suite 100, Reston, 703-481-4242
Mount Vernon Clinic, 8350 Richmond Highway, Suite 233, Alexandria, 703-704-5203
Springfield Clinic, Cary Building, first floor, Suite A100, 8136 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, 703-569-1031
Joseph Willard Health Center, 3750 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, 703-246-7100

A student receiving the vaccine at a Fairfax County Health Department clinic must be accompanied by an adult and should bring his or her current immunization record to the clinic at that time. Visit the Fairfax County website for up-to-date information on clinic times and locations. Call the school at 703-817-1774 if you have any questions.

Medical Forms for download