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Immunization Requirements

IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
 

The Pennsylvania Department of Health had revised the immunization requirements for students effective for the former 2017-2018 school-year (Subchapter C cited in 22 Pa. Code section 11.20, and 22 Pa. Code section 51.1) and remain in place for the upcoming 2018-2019 school-year. This revision replaced the eight-month provisional period for immunizations with a new requirement of a five-day provisional period for students who do not have records of immunizations at the start of the required school-year. 

Prior to August 2017, a parent had eight months to complete all required immunizations. This period is called provisional enrollment.

However, beginning in August of 2017 and continuing for the upcoming 2018-2019 school-year, the provisional enrollment period is five days. A parent/guardian must have all immunizations of his/her child completed within the first five days of school. If they are not completed within those five days, the student must be excluded from school.

If the student is in the middle of a series and it is too soon for the next dose, the parents/guardians must provide the school nurse with a plan for immunizations (signed by a health care provider) within the first five days of school. If the student has incomplete immunizations and no medical plan, the student must be excluded from school.

These requirements allow for the following exemptions: medical reasons, religious beliefs, or philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction. If your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be removed from school in the event of an outbreak.

For your information, the following immunizations are needed for school attendance. Note that these are the same requirements from the 2017-2018 school-year.

Children in ALL grades (K-12) need the following immunizations for attendance:

  • 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (1 dose on or after 4th birthday) (Tdap)
  • 4 doses of polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous does given) (IPV)
  • 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
  • 3 doses of hepatitis B (Hep B)
  • 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or evidence of immunity (history of chickenpox or antibody titer)

7th through 12th grade ADDITIONAL immunization requirements for attendance:

  • 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap)
  • 2 doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)

             -first dose prior to entry into 7th grade

             -second dose required at age 16 or prior to entry into 12th grade

If the student has already received the first dose after age 16, only one dose is required.

You may check your child’s school immunization record by consulting with your child’s physician. Please contact your school nurse with any questions.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert Fraser
Superintendent of Schools
Council Rock School District
 

Michele Adames, RN
Health Services Coordinator
Council Rock School District
 

Dr. Kasey Black
Supervisor of Pupil Services
Council Rock School District