Immunizations

  1. State law requires immunization records to be complete on all students upon entry to school. The principal is required by law to exclude a student from school without acceptable proof of the required immunizations. The district may grant an optional 14 calendar days, 30 days for those students transferring from out of state or country for those families who have shown a good faith effort to obtain the necessary proof of immunizations. A school district may adopt a policy which is more restrictive and does not allow the grace period. However, it may not adopt a policy that is less restrictive.
  2. It is the school nurse’s responsibility to notify parents both verbally & in writing of:
    1. Any immunizations needed for entry
    2. Required proofs of immunization
    3. Available resources for obtaining immunizations
    4. A deadline date for obtaining immunization proof
  3. The state can audit a school or district at any time to ascertain compliance with state mandates regarding immunizations. We must exclude students until they have complied with the requirements. Compliance can be:
    1. Proof of appointment to obtain immunizations
    2. The student must have received at least 1 dose of each vaccine

We must supervise and exclude immediately if student does not receive vaccine on appointment dates, unless there is a physician/facility documented reason for it not being administered.

 

Immunization requirements

New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance are outlined below.  

Incoming Kindergarteners through Grade 5 

  1. DTaP/DPT- must have 5 doses at intervals of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months & last dose no earlier than age 4 and no later than entry to kindergarten. Exception:  if 4th dose is at age 4 or greater, 4 doses are sufficient
  2. IPV- must have 4 doses of at intervals of 2 months, 4 months, 6- 18 months with 4th dose no earlier than age 4 and no later than entry to kindergarten. Exception:  if student received 3rd dose age 4 or later, 3 doses are sufficient 
  3. MMR- must have 2 doses, with the 1st dose given no earlier than 4 days before 1st birthday. The 2nd dose is due no later than entry to kindergarten. 
  4. Hepatitis B vaccine- must have 3 doses at intervals of birth, 1-2 months & 6-18 months. There must be 4 weeks between 1st & 2nd doses, 8 weeks between 2nd & 3rd dose – 3rd dose no earlier than 16 weeks after 1st dose.
  5. Varicella- must have 2 doses, with the 1st dose given no earlier than 4 days before 1st birthday- 15 months, 2nd dose no later than entry to kindergarten. 

Grade 6 through Grade 12 

  1. DTaP/DPT- need 3 doses. If a student needs a series, they should get Tdap 1st and subsequent doses of Tdap or Td to complete 3 doses. 
  2. Tdap – 1 dose.  A dose of Tdap received at 10 years of age or older will meet this requirement for grades 6 & 7 and if a student received Tdap at age 7 or older, it will satisfy the requirements for grades 8-12
  3. IPV- must have 4 doses of at intervals of 2 months, 4 months, 6- 18 months with  booster dose at age 4-6 years old. If all 4 doses of IPV are given before 8/1/2010, then those doses are sufficient. Exception: if a student received 3rd dose age 4 or later, doses are sufficient.
  4. MMR- must have 2 doses. 1st dose no earlier than 4 days before 1st birthday.
  5. Hepatitis B vaccine- must have 3 doses at intervals of birth, 1-2 months & 6-18 months. There must be 4 weeks between 1st & 2nd doses, 8 weeks between 2nd &  3rd doses- 3rd dose no earlier than 16 weeks after 1st dose.
  6. Varicella- 2 doses- 1st no earlier than 4 days before 1st birthday

Also, Grade 7 through Grade 11                                                                                     

  1. In addition to the above doses, 1 dose of meningococcal vaccine is required. A dose of meningococcal received at 10 years of age or older will meet this requirement for Grade 7.

    Also, Grade 12 

    1. In addition to above doses, 2 doses of meningococcal vaccine are required,  2nd dose no  earlier than age 16. Exception: if 1st dose of meningococcal vaccine given at age 16 or later, only 1 dose is required.