Immunization updates –
There are outbreaks across the commonwealth involving both Measles and Mumps:
- Temple University more than 100 cases of mumps reported this year. They now have more stringent vaccination requirements, like Penn State University, to keep their campus safe.
- York had a measles outbreak that required quarantining people. FYI – if someone was exposed to measles and they have no symptoms but visit many establishments, they can still spread the virus in those areas visited. The measles virus is highly contagious, and it stays in the air environment up to two hours after the infected person has left the room.
- The Immunization manual has been updated but is waiting review and approval. Do not confuse Meningococcal conjugate or MenACWY (Menacta and Menveo) with Serogroup B meningococcal or MenB vaccines (Bexsero and Tr, umenba) They are not the same. Children ages 11-12 should get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine, with a booster dose at age 16. Teens and young adults (Ages 16-23) also may get a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine, but it is currently not required for school.
- Pre-school and child-care fall under the childcare immunization guidelines. They must have all the ACIP- recommended immunizations- this includes Hepatitis A and the yearly flu vaccine.
More Important Topics
There are outbreaks across the commonwealth involving both Measles and Mumps.
- Temple University more than 100 cases of mumps reported this year. They now have more stringent vaccination requirements, like Penn State University, to keep their campus safe.
- York had a measles outbreak that required quarantining people. FYI – if someone was exposed to measles and they have no symptoms but visit many establishments, they can still spread the virus in those areas visited. The measles virus is highly contagious, and it stays in the air environment up to two hours after the infected person has left the room.
- The Immunization manual has been updated but is waiting review and approval.
- Do not confuse Meningococcal conjugate or MenACWY (Menacta and Menveo) with Serogroup B meningococcal or MenB vaccines (Bexsero and Tr, umenba) They are not the same. Children ages 11-12 should get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine, with a booster dose at age 16. Teens and young adults (Ages 16-23) also may get a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine, but it is currently not required for school.
- Pre-school and child-care fall under the childcare immunization guidelines. They must have all the ACIP- recommended immunizations- this includes Hepatitis A and the yearly flu vaccine.
What spurred July’s PENN LINK? Tdap noncompliance.
A nurse manually reviewed her school’s immunizations and found hundreds of student immunization records that were not in compliance due to the timing of the administration of the Tdap vaccine. Nurses from across the state were also noting non-compliance with the correct timing for Tdap administration.
Please refer to the PA Department of Health letter you received that is dated Aug. 12, 2019, and signed by Thomas McCleaf, Director.
Tdap-letter---signed-20190812.pdf
News on medical exemptions and immunizations
Medical exemptions should only be written for children when the vaccine would endanger their health. Medical exemptions should not be written because the timing of a vaccine is not within the required intervals, and the physician believes the child is adequately immunized.
A school district should never encourage a parent/guardian sign an exemption form to aid in the convenience of enrolling a child into school. If an outbreak occurred, that child would be excluded from school. And if a child died as a result of that outbreak, the parent could take legal action against the nurse or district.
There are NO Exemptions for students wanting to attend college. Exemptions are only an option in the school age child – NOT at the college level.
Students who jump a grade level - Students may start the year as a junior and then “jump” to their senior year to graduate early. (Yes, this happens.) That child is required to receive their second MCV within the five-day window or be excluded. THERE IS NO 30-DAY PROVISIONAL!!
Homeless students – McKinney-Vento Liaison
Homeless students still need all immunizations. Every school district has a McKinney-Vento Liaison who is federally hired and paid to assist these homeless students. This includes providing transportation to health care appointments and making sure they get immunized in a timely manner. In order to find the liaison for your school, use this link: Directory Center-School Homeless Liaison
Confusion about a 30-day provisional period for transferring students
When a student transfers to your school from another school, in state or out-of-state, you have 30 days to obtain their immunization record from the previous school. However, as soon as you obtain the immunization record, the five-day window begins. If you receive the immunization records when the incoming child registers to enter your school, there is no additional provisional time for them. If you receive the student’s immunization record on the 10th day of their enrollment, then any immunizations need to be completed within five-days. The student does not get a 30-day provisional period, unless you don’t get the record until day 30.
Foreign exchange student immunizations
When reviewing immunization records for students coming from other countries:
- Make sure the polio is the trivalent IPV (tOPV). Even though it is not given in the U.S. anymore, OPV or oral Polio vaccine is still given in other parts of the world. IPV is required, so make sure it is IPV.
- Make sure the meningitis vaccine is for meningitis A (MCV4). Foreign countries vaccinate for meningitis C that is totally different and doesn’t replace MCV4.
Medical appointment/medical certificate- Students with Special Education Needs
A medical certificate is written by the doctor to verify the date the child is medically able to receive and will receive the next vaccine in the series. The child should be medically up to date before the medical certificate is written. A medical certificate is NOT a note from the doctor or health clinic stating an appointment time in the future because the office does not have a sooner appointment available or has run out of vaccine and is waiting for new supply.
Ex: MCV #2. Student has five days (or shorter if your district has this rule) to provide proof of the immunization. MD certificate says the appointment is Sept. 10, and this is the seventh day of the senior year. Please know, this is not adequate information.
CDC vaccine schedule
PA CODE for immunizations
