RALEIGH -- The North Carolina Commission for Public Health added new vaccination requirements for students.

A booster shot of DTaP is now required for:

• All students attending public school who are entering the 6th grade on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.

• All students not attending public schools (i.e., private, home-school, non-traditional schools) who are 12 years of age on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.

• Individuals enrolling in college or university for the first time on or after July 1, 2008, if a tetanus/diphtheria toxoid or tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine has not been administered within the past 10 years.

The DTaP vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis.

Also, students entering school or college for the first time will need to get a second dose of the mumps vaccine.

These changes were made to help reduce the number of whooping cough and mumps cases.

Since the new shots are required, they will be provided for free. Your physician may charge a small fee to administer it.

For more information about the immunization rule change, visit ImmunizeNC.com or contact your physician, your local health department or the Immunization Branch at (919) 707-5550.