School exclusion day coming up Feb. 18
Deschutes County Health Services reminds parents that children will not be able to attend school or child care starting Wednesday, February 18 if their records on file show missing immunizations.
State law requires that all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start, and certified child care facilities have up-to-date documentation on their immunizations, or have a non-medical or medical exemption.
Information for parents about updated vaccine requirements:
1. Parents of adolescents should be aware that one dose of Tdap vaccine is required for all incoming seventh graders. Tdap is a tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) booster.
2. The new Non-Medical Exemption Law went into effect on March 1, 2014. Vaccine education is required for any parent wanting a new nonmedical exemption for their child. A certificate of completion from a health care practitioner or from the on-line module must be provided to the child’s school. The module can be viewed at: www.healthoregon.org/vaccineexemption.
If school and child care vaccination records are not up-to-date, children will be sent home on February 18.
In 2015, Deschutes County Health Services sent 1,193 letters to parents and guardians informing them that their children needed immunizations to stay in school or in child care.
Households received letters because their child’s school or day care records were not updated, even though the child’s shots may have been up to date. It is important for parents to update their child’s immunization record at school or child care after every shot to prevent school exclusion.
Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their health care provider or Deschutes County Health Services at (541) 322-7400 to make an appointment. Area School Based Health Centers (SBHC) are open during extended hours prior to Exclusion Day. Appointments can be made at Ensworth SBHC in Bend by calling (541) 323-3850, or at the Lynch SBHC in Redmond at (541) 923-5800. Pharmacists can also immunize children ages 11 or older. Please contact your neighborhood pharmacy for details.
For more information about child immunizations, please visit: www.deschutes.org/immunizations or call (541) 322 7400.
