The Arkansas Department of Health has new immunization requirements for students attending kindergarten through the twelfth grade beginning with the 2000-2001 school year. The new requirements are three (3) doses of Hepatitis B vaccine for students in kindergarten, seventh grade, and transfer students (students who did not attend the same school district last year); one (1) dose of Varicella or chickenpox vaccine for students in kindergarten; and two (2) doses of a measles containing vaccine (usually MMR) for all students kindergarten through twelfth grade. These new requirements comply with the endorsements of both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia.
Due to the anticipated increase in the number of students who will need additional doses of vaccine, schools will be allowed until January 1, 2001, to comply with the new requirements. Questions concerning these requirements should be directed to a family physician or local health unit.
Also, all schools may use the Arkansas Immunization/Health Record as a standard form for recording immunization information. Public and private schools may order the form from the Arkansas Department of Health. Immunization records may be stored on a computer database, such as the Arkansas Public School Computer Network (APSCN), as long as a copy of the original source document is contained in the student's permanent file. It shall be the responsibility of the school to maintain a list of students not appropriately immunized, a list of transfer students and a list of students with medical or religious exemptions.
The only proof of immunizations to be accepted by the school authority shall be a certificate by a licensed physician, health department, or military service, acknowledging the same, stating the vaccine type and dates of vaccine administration. The information provided will be entered on the school record. Terms such as "up-to-date", "complete", "adequate", etc., are not to be used.
The Department of Health is charged with the responsibility of immunizing all children who need vaccine. In order to identify areas where additional emphasis is needed and to measure levels, the Arkansas Department of Health will conduct annual surveys and on-site immunization record audits of selected grades in all schools. The schools' cooperation in completing these surveys and audits is required.
For a copy of the Rules and Regulations for Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade Immunization Law, please contact the Arkansas Department of Health, Division of Communicable Diseases/Immunizations, Charles Beets at 501-661-2784.