The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department is offering a special program that will provide the Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) to Douglas County children whose birthdays fall between Sept. 1, 1997, and Aug. 31, 1998. There is a $14 administrative fee, but no one is denied service because of inability to pay. The program ends July 31.

Getting Tdap at age 11 rather than 15 is new for students entering Kansas schools for the 2009-2010 school year.

Other changes for the 2009-2010 school year are:

• Kindergarten students must have two varicella vaccines, commonly known as chicken pox, in addition to the following vaccines that previously have been required: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), inactivated polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and hepatitis B.

• Students through grade nine must have three hepatitis B vaccines and one varicella vaccine unless a written note from their doctor states that the child has had varicella disease.

For more information, visit the department’s Web site at ldchealth.org or call the clinic at 843-0721.