Public health officials are advising parents that, starting Feb. 20, children won’t be able to go to school or child care if their records show they are missing immunizations.

 State law requires that all children in public and private schools, pre-schools, Head Start and certified child care facilities be up-to-date on their immunizations, or have a religious or medical exemption.  

“The goal is to make sure children are fully protected against vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Lorraine Duncan, immunization manager in the Oregon Department of Human Services Public Health Division, in a  press release. “If school and child care shot records are not up-to-date, the child will be sent home.”

Last year, 3,344 children were kept out of school or child care until the necessary immunization information was turned in to the school or child care facility.

 Duncan said the number of children excluded from school or child care has been dropping statewide since 2004. No new immunization requirements have been added in the past several years, and parents, schools, child care and health care providers are becoming more aware of the immunization requirements.  

However, starting this fall, one dose of Hepatitis A vaccine will be needed for children to begin kindergarten, preschool and child care. A second dose of Hepatitis A vaccine also is required and should be given six months after the first dose. One dose of Tdap vaccine will be required for seventh-graders. Tdap is a tetanus and diphtheria booster that also protects against pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

 

Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their health care provider or county health clinic, or call Oregon SafeNet at 800-SAFENET or (800) 723-3638. Additional information on school immunizations can be found on the Web at http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/imm/school/index.shtml.