ADE Director's Communication Memo Form


Memo Number : IA-04-048

Date Created : 10/23/2003

Attention:

Superintendents
Secondary Principals
Elementary Principals
Middle School Principals
High School Principals
other: School nurses

Type of Memo: Informational
Response Required: No
   
Section:   Internal Administration - Dr. Bobbie Davis
Subject:
Clarification of Immunization Law

Regulatory Authority:
N/A

Contact Person:
Dr. Bobbie Davis

Phone Number:
501-682-1297

E-mail:
bdavis@arkedu.k12.ar.us

The Department of Health has issued some clarifications regarding the rules implementing the immunization law.

First, the hepatitis B requirements state that “the child must complete the series before the end of the school year.” For both the three dose and two dose series, the child must receive the first dose by December, if the school year ends in May. The following schedule uses the minimum intervals between doses.

For three dose series:
1st dose today
2nd dose in one month
3rd dose 2 months after the second dose, but the first and third dose must be separated by at least 4 months.

For two dose series:
1st dose today
2nd dose – at least 4 months after the first dose

Second, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that children who received the MMR and Varicella up to four days prior to the first birthday and DtaP and Polio up to four days prior to the fourth birthday should not be required to repeat those doses of vaccine. The child should not be required to receive additional doses of these vaccines, and the records should be accepted by schools. The child will be considered compliant with the immunization law.

It is permissible to allow incoming students a maximum of thirty (30) days to provide an immunization record.

Questions regarding these issues are directed to Mr. Charles Beets with the Department of Health at 501-661-2784.

Attachments:
    None

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