Book
Policy Manual
Section
5000 Students
Title
IMMUNIZATION
Code
po5320
Status
Active
Adopted
August 1, 2007
Last Revised
June 18, 2012
5320 - IMMUNIZATION
In order to safeguard the school community from the spread of certain communicable diseases and in recognition that prevention is a means of combating the spread of disease, the Board of Education requires all children entering school for the first time in this State to show proof of immunization against diphtheria, hepatitis B, mumps, poliomyelitis (polio), rubeola (measles), rubella, tetanus, varicella (chickenpox), and pertussis (whooping cough). For preschool children entering a school housing other children in grades kindergarten through 12, the above immunization requirements hold to the extent that they are age appropriate in accordance with the immunization schedules found at www.cdc.gov by searching under "Immunization Schedules".
A student who does not have a completed certificate of immunization or other similar medical record of immunizations shall show proof that s/he has received at least one (1) dose of each of the required vaccines in order to be provisionally enrolled in school.
Provisional enrollment may continue for up to eight (8) months from school entry. After attending school for a maximum of eight (8) months, all provisionally enrolled students shall show proof to the school that they have completed all of the required immunizations.
Proof of prior measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis or hepatitis B disease being used in lieu of vaccination requires a document signed by a physician indicating, at a minimum, the name of the patient, the date of the illness and any obtained laboratory evidence of the diagnosis. If the historical disease diagnosis is in question, current laboratory evidence of immunity may be required.
The verbal or written statement of the parent or legal guardian of a child shall suffice to prove that a child has had chickenpox and is considered to be proof of immunity.
Any person who cannot give satisfactory proof of having the required immunizations or a certificate from a reputable physician showing that one (1) or all of the required immunizations is impossible or improper or sufficient reason why any or all immunizations should not be done, shall be immunized prior to being admitted in any of the County schools. If the exemption noted by the physician is temporary, a notation shall be made as to the future date at which the exemption should be reevaluated.
Requests for medical exemption from vaccine requirements shall be reviewed and approved or denied initially by the local health officer in the county where the requestor attends school. Approval or denial of a request shall be in writing and a copy of the response shall be sent to the State Health Officer. The local health officer’s decision on a request for a medical exemption from immunization may be reviewed by the State Health Officer. That decision may be appealed through the administrative review procedure outlined in 64 CSR 95, 10 and 64 CSR 1.
Children who are delinquent for any required vaccinations, or who have exceeded the eight (8) month delinquent for any required vaccinations, or who have exceeded the eight (8) month provisional enrollment period, will be considered to be out of compliance with the law and may be required to stop receiving educational services at the school until the appropriate vaccine(s) are received and the records are amended.
Any teacher having information concerning any person who attempts to enter school for the first time without having been immunized shall report the names of all such persons to the county health officer. It shall be the duty of the health officer in counties having a full- time health officer to see that such persons are immunized before entering school.
The attendance director shall assist in obtaining immunizations or records of immunizations for those students that do not have them and assure that students are enrolled while the records are being obtained. All immunization records received shall be entered into the West Virginia Education Information System (WVEIS) and reviewed annually.
Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, all children entering school in grades 7 and 12 must show proof of immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and meningococcal disease. There shall be no provisional enrollment permitted. Request for medical exemption from these vaccine requirements shall be in accordance with those students entering school for the first time as indicated above.
The following vaccines are recommended for children attending public schools, at the appropriate age: influenza, human papillomavirus (females only) other vaccines recommended or various high risk populations in the school setting may be found on the
immunization schedule at www.cde.gov by searching under "Immunization Schedules".
It is strongly recommended that students entering grades six and nine receive adolescent immunizations as defined by the United State Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WVDHHR State Health Officer. The immunization record for each student in grades six and nine shall be entered into the WVEIS in order to ensure that updated immunization information is readily available to health officials in the event of a communicable disease outbreak that presents an imminent danger to students or other members of the community.
Revised 4/21/09
© Neola 2012
Legal
West Virginia State Board of Education policy 2423
West Virginia State Board of Education policy 2525
WV Code 16-3-4 and 5
64 CSR 95