Nurses / Immunization Requirements

Immunization Requirements

A student must be fully immunized against certain diseases or must present a certificate or statement that, for medical reasons or reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, the student will not be immunized. For exemptions based on reasons of conscience, only official forms issued by the Texas Department of Health, Immunization Division, can be honored by the District. The immunizations required are: diphtheria, rubeola (measles), rubella, mumps, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type B, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, and varicella (chicken pox). The school nurse can provide information on age-appropriate doses or on an acceptable physician-validated history of illness required by the Texas Department of Health. Proof of immunization may be personal records from a licensed physician or public health clinic with a signature or rubber-stamp validation.

If a student should not be immunized for medical reasons, the student or parent must present a certificate signed by a U.S. licensed physician stating that, in the doctor"s opinion, the required immunization poses a significant risk to the health and well-being of the student or any member of the student"s family or household. This certificate must be renewed yearly unless the physician specifies a life-long condition.

School Entry Vaccation Requirements

Vaccines	Kindergarten	7th Grade	8th -12th Grade
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP/DTP/DT/Td/Tdap)	5 doses, one must be received on or after the 4th birthday; 4 doses if the 4th dose was given on or after the 4th birthday	3 doses, including one dose on or after 4th birthday	3 doses, including one dose on or after 4th birthday 1 Tdap/Td booster within last 10 years
Polio	4 doses, one of which must have been received on or after 4th birthday; 3 doses meet requirement if 3rd dose was given on or after 4th birthday	4 doses, one of which must have been received on or after 4th birthday; 3 doses meet requirement if 3rd dose was given on or after 4th birthday	4 doses, one of which must have been received on or after 4th birthday; 3 doses meet requirement if 3rd dose was given on or after 4th birthday
*Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)**	2 doses with the 1st dose received on or after the 1st birthday	For the 2009-2010 school year, 7th-12th grade students are required to have two doses of a measles-containg vaccine, and one dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine
Hepatitis B*	3 doses	3 doses; two doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine are acceptable for students 11-15 years of age. Dosage and type of vaccine MUST be clearly documented
Varicella*	2 doses received on or after 1st birthday; written documentation verifying previous illness will be accepted	2 doses for 7th grade students; 1 dose for 8th-12th grade students. Refer to the phase-in schedule to determine when the 2nd dose Varicella requirement goes into effect for 8th-12th grades
Meningococcal		1 dose
Hepatitis A*	2 doses with the 1st dose received on or after the 1st birthday
* serologic confirmation of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, or varicella or serologic evidence of infection is acceptable in lieu of vaccine.

RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATIONS FOR SCHOOL AGED STUDENTS
RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATIONS FOR SCHOOL AGED STUDENTS
Human Papillomavirus	Recommended for girls ages 9 and above
Influenza	Recommended yearly for all students

For further information regarding immunization requirements for school aged students, please refer to the following website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/school/

Board Policy FFAB(LEGAL)