Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, all Nevada public and private school students enrolling in 7th grade will be required to receive one dose of the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or MenACWY).
Additionally, all students enrolled as a freshman of a Nevada university, 23 years or younger, may not attend after Sept. 1, 2017 without proof of meningococcal vaccination on or after age 16. This vaccine protects against four types of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease, also known as meningitis.
Adolescents and young adults are among those at greatest risk for exposure to meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness that is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus. This infection can lead to brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities, amputations, and death. Vaccination is the best defense against meningococcal disease.
While Tdap and MCV4 are the only two immunizations required for 7th grade students in Nevada, HPV and an annual influenza vaccine are also recommended for adolescents. The HPV vaccine protects against cervical and other cancers caused by human papillomavirus infection.
Recommended adolescent vaccines, including Tdap and MCV4, can be administered by doctor’s offices, pharmacists, healthcare professionals at community clinics, community health nurses, and local health districts.
Additionally, the Nevada Vaccines for Children Program provides vaccines to children who are uninsured/underinsured, eligible for Medicaid, or Alaska Native/American Indian. The VFC Program helps children receive their vaccines according to the recommended immunization schedule and has contributed directly to a substantial increase in childhood and teen immunization rates nationwide.
Parents can find out more about the vaccines required to attend school in Nevada at https://www.immunizenevada.org/NVSchoolRequirements. They can also check and print their child’s immunization records at https://izrecord.nv.gov. First-time users may need to contact the Nevada WebIZ help desk at 1-877-NV-WebIZ (877-689-3249) or email izit@health.nv.gov.
