HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reminding parents and caregivers of the upcoming deadline to ensure school-aged children have had all required immunizations.
"When the current school year began, families were given an eight-month provisional period to get their students up-to-date with their vaccinations," said Dr. Eli Avila, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. "This period is coming to an end, so we are reminding families to make sure school-aged children are immunized." New immunization regulations that took effect last August require children in all grades to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine as well as a second dose of the chicken pox vaccine.
They also require students in seventh grade to have one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and one dose of the tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). All vaccines also need to be appropriately spaced to be considered valid.
To help parents and caregivers meet the deadline, the department will be providing free immunization clinics during the week of April 9. Students will need to be registered by Friday. To register for an appointment in your area, visit www.padohclinicappt.com.
Individuals can also call 877-PA HEALTH (877-724-3258) for additional information. The most recent copy of the student's vaccination history must be provided at the time of the appointment. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
While the department established the new regulations, enforcement is up to individual school districts. The regulations were developed upon recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. To review the regulations, visit www.health.state.pa.us/immunizations.
Mount Carmel input
Mount Carmel Area School District reports that, if their immunizations are not up to date by May 1, 128 students at the high school and 101 at the elementary level at will be sent home. Parents have been previously notified by mail.