By Rotimi Adesina, M.D. (third year pediatric resident), and June Elcock-Messam, M.D.
The national immunization program aimed at protecting children and adolescents from vaccine preventable diseases continues to be one of the most impressive examples of preventive medicine in the United States. Organizations that collaborate over this program include the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Committee on Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
As breakthroughs continue to emerge within the fields of virology, immunology, and genetics, immunization guidelines are constantly being revised to stay up to date. You may have received a letter from your child’s school nurse or heard on the news that there are some changes to the vaccine requirements for school-aged children in the state of Pennsylvania that will go into effect in August 2017. If your child is not up to date on his or her immunizations according to these guidelines, your child may be excluded from school in September 2017. Currently, the vaccines listed below are needed for attendance in all grades.
Name of Vaccine Amount of doses needed to be considered up to date:
DTaP (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) 4 doses, including one dose on or after 4 years old
IPV (Polio)… 4 doses, 1 dose on or after 4 years old
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)… 2 doses
Hepatitis B… 3 doses
Varicella (chickenpox)… 2 doses or proof that child had the chickenpox
In addition to the above vaccines, for attendance in 7th grade your child must have two additional vaccines by the first day of school or risk exclusion.
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis)… 1 dose
MCV (meningococcal conjugate vaccine)… 1 dose
For attendance in 12th grade, your child must have another dose of the MCV vaccine by the first day of school or risk exclusion.
MCV (meningococcal conjugate vaccine)… 1 dose
There are four scenarios that can occur when your child’s immunization history is reviewed by the school nurse:
- If your child has received all of the above recommended doses of vaccines, you are in compliance and do not need to take any further action.
- If your school-aged child is not up to date on his/her vaccines as listed above and is able to medically receive the recommended doses within the first five days of school, he or she MUST receive the needed vaccinations or risk being excluded from school.
- If your child is not in compliance but it is too early to vaccinate him or her with the next dose in a particular series, a “medical plan” – a red and white card– must be provided to the school within five days or risk exclusion from school. This red and white card has to be signed by your medical provider and should contain a plan to bring your child up to date with the immunizations. This card can be downloaded here.
School officials will then monitor this plan to ensure compliance in a timely manner. - If your child has a medical exemption or if you have a religious/philosophical issue, this information should be documented and provided to school officials.
If you have further questions about these changes, please contact your doctor immediately or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH. You can also google “28 pa.code ch.23 (school immunization)” to learn more about the Pennsylvania immunization requirements for attendance in school.
Some additional reputable immunization resources include:
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) immunization guidelines
The American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP) immunization guidelines
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Reprinted from the Delaware County Medical Society publication, Delaware County Medicine and Health, Summer 2017 issue
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