School exclusion day coming up Feb. 15

Deschutes County Health Services wants to remind parents that children will not be able to attend school or child care starting Feb. 15 if their school records 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 immunization records, or have a non-medical or medical exemption on file at their school.

“The goal of this law is to ensure that all children in our community are protected against serious vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Deschutes County Health Services Director Dr. George Conway.

Letters have been sent to notify parents and guardians if their child needs immunizations to stay in school or child care.

Many parents get letters because their child’s school or day care records are not up to date, even though the child may have all of their shots.

Officials said it is important for parents to update their child’s immunization record after every shot. If school and child care immunization records are not up to date, the child will be sent home on Feb. 15.

For parents seeking a non-medical exemption, a certificate of completion of vaccine education from a health care practitioner or from the Oregon Health Authority on-line education module must be provided to the child’s school. The module can be viewed at: www.healthoregon.org/vaccineexemption .

Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their health care provider, a School Based Health Center or Deschutes County Health Services (541-322-7499 ) to make an appointment. Appointments at School Based Health Centers can be made at the following:

· Bend – Bend High SBHC or Ensworth SBHC – (541) 323-3850

· La Pine – La Pine SBHC – (541) 536-0400

· Redmond – Lynch SBHC – (541) 923-5800 or Redmond High SBHC – (541) 526-6623

· Sisters – Sisters SBHC – (541) 526-6623

Pharmacists can also immunize children age 7 or older. Please contact your local pharmacy for details.

For more information about child immunizations, please visit: www.deschutes.org/immunizations or call (541) 322-7499 .