The newest group of school-aged children may have to meet a number of new standards in the 21st century, but first they must get past kindergarten enrollment.

New immunization standards must be met to be eligible for kindergarten enrollment in the 1997-98 school year.

School officials are working to ensure all incoming students are prepared for enrollment. They're getting help from public-health officials, who are also working to improve their immunization rates.

"The new immunization requirements were part of a larger push for better immunization rates overall throughout the nation," said Ruby McPherson of the Missouri Bureau of Immunization.

Many states had immunization rates that averaged between 60 and 75 percent in 1995, but lawmakers and health officials felt those numbers should be improved.

Jane Wernsman, assistant director of the Cape Girardeau Public Health Center, said the threat of communicable diseases was another reason for the new immunization requirement. Cases of hepatitis B have risen in proportion with AIDS cases nationally, and lawmakers wanted to take steps to curb those numbers.

"Hepatitis B is a viral-type infection that affects the liver," Wernsman said. "It's what they used to call viral hepatitis, and it's passed by blood and body fluids. Kids who get it can become sick and can die from it."

A series of three shots is used to protect against hepatitis B. The second shot is received one month after the first shot is administered, and five months later the last shot in the series is given. State law requires that the series be completed or in progress before Aug. 1, 1997, for students enrolling in kindergarten.

"We're holding several immunization clinics to help get kids ready for school," Wernsman said. "Throughout the year when we have children coming in, we have informed parents they need to get started on this series."

Missouri law says students entering kindergarten in the 1997-98 school year must be 5 years old and have begun immunizations against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP); polio (OPV or IPV); measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); haemophilus influenza b (Hib); and hepatitis B (HB) before Aug 1.

When registering for the school year, parents must provide immunization records, a birth certificate and a Social Security card to prove requirements are being met.

Three years ago Cape Girardeau County had an immunization rate of about 77 percent. By 1995, that number had jumped to 92 percent for children 2 and younger.

Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, credits that jump to the help of physicians and the auxiliary groups of both local hospitals. The groups help the health department send out monthly reminders to parents whose children have missed shots in their immunization schedule. Craig said the reminders keep the kids on schedule so that their records are up-to-date at enrollment time.

"Last year we were seventh in the state in terms of high immunization percentages," she said. "Now we're at 92 percent for the second year in a row, which is phenomenal."

REQUIREMENTS AT AREA SCHOOLS

All schools have the following requirements at the time of enrollment:

Child must be 5 years old before Aug. 1, 1997.

Child must have completed or be in progress with the Hepatitis B series before Aug. 1, 1997.

Child must have had the second MMR, fifth DPT and fourth Polio immunizations before school begins.

CAPE GIRARDEAU SCHOOLS

Preregistration as follows:

April 21

Washington Elementary and Franklin Elementary

April 22

Jefferson Elementary and May Greene Elementary

April 24

Clippard Elementary and Alma Schrader Elementary

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

JACKSON SCHOOLS

April 4

8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All schools register at Primary Annex.

NELL HOLCOMB

April 4

Hobbs Chapel on Hwy. 177

*Please call ahead to make an appointment.

OAK RIDGE

April 3

8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Fellowship Hall behind the Baptist Church

DELTA

Alphabetical registration

March 18:

A-T 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

H-N 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

March 19:

O-S 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

T-Z 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Elementary school

*Call elementary school for pre-registration folder to speed enrollment. Plan to stay at least one hour.

SCOTT CITY

DATE PASSED

*Call elementary school office to make appointment.

CHAFFEE

April 9-10

8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.

First Baptist Church

*Call elementary school for appointment.

KELLY

March 25-26

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Elementary school

*March 18 7 p.m. Orientation for parents and students. Can schedule appointments at this time.

ORAN

April 16-17

9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Elementary school

KELSO

March 19

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Elementary school

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL

April 15

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

April 16

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Elementary school

MEADOW HEIGHTS

April 16-17

8:40 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Elementary school

*Please call ahead for appointments

WOODLAND

DATE PASSED

*Please call elementary school office for appointments.

LEOPOLD

April 4

8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Elementary school

ZALMA

April 14

8 a.m to 2 p.m.

Elementary school gym

PERRYVILLE

March 17-18

Elementary school

*Please call for appointment.