The Department of Education has been notified by the Department of Health that a change has been implemented which effects the school immunization requirements for DTaP vaccine.
The Arkansas Department of Health will temporarily restrict the groups eligible to receive the 4th and 5th doses of DTaP. Effective immediately, the requirements for the 4th dose of DTaP vaccine (last primary) will be suspended for all children. The 5th dose of DTaP (preschool) is suspended for all children except children who reside in Pulaski, Saline, or Lonoke counties. The current pertussis outbreak in these counties necessitates these exemptions.
In addition, the Department of Health and Department of Education are pleased to announce the hiring of Ms. Susanne Tullos as the State School Nurse Consultant. Ms. Tullos, RN, MS, NCSN, has over sixteen years of experience as a school nurse. She is housed at the Department of Education in Room 102-A. She can be reached at stullos@arkedu.k12.ar.us.
Ms. Tullos will serve as a consultant to regional health offices and to the Community Health Nurse Specialists housed at the fifteen educational cooperatives and Pulaski County, as well as school districts and school nurses. Funding for the consulting nurse and all nurse specialists is provided by the Tobacco Settlement.