Administrative Regulation

AR 5141.31

Students

Immunizations

The Superintendent or designee shall not unconditionally admit any student to a district school or child care and development program unless that student has presented documentation of full immunization. (Health and Safety Code 120335)

(cf. 5141.22 - Infectious Diseases)

(cf. 5141.23 - Infectious Disease Prevention)

(cf. 5148 - Child Care and Development)

At the beginning of the school year, the Superintendent or designee shall notify parents/guardians of the rights of students and parents/guardians relating to immunizations under Education Code 49403. (Education Code 48980)

(cf. 5145.6 - Parental Notifications)

Immunizations for Grades K-12

Students entering the district in grades kindergarten through 12 shall have received the following immunizations: (Health and Safety Code 120335; 17 CCR 6020)

1. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine

a. Students entering at the kindergarten level shall have received two doses on or after the first birthday, except one dose may be a measles-only vaccine.

b. Mumps vaccine shall not be required for students age seven or older.

c. Students entering or advancing to seventh grade shall be required to have a second dose of measles-containing vaccine if they have not previously obtained a second dose.

2. Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine (DTP or DTaP)

a. Five doses shall be required for students ages four through six. However, four doses shall meet the requirement if at least one dose was given on or after the fourth birthday.

b. Four doses shall be required for students age seven or older. However, three doses shall meet the requirement if at least one dose was given on or after the second birthday.

c. Pertussis immunization shall not be required for students age seven or older.

d. A tetanus and diphtheria (Td) shot is recommended but not required for seventh-grade students who have not had a booster within the past five years.

3. Poliomyelitis (polio) vaccine

Four doses shall be required at any age. However, three doses shall meet the requirement for ages four though six if at least one dose was given on or after the fourth birthday, and three doses shall meet the requirement for ages seven to seventeen if at least one dose was given on or after the second birthday.

4. Hepatitis B vaccine

a. Three doses shall be required for entry into kindergarten.

Students admitted at the kindergarten level or below before August 1, 1997, shall be exempt from this requirement.

b. Students shall not be unconditionally admitted or advanced to seventh grade unless they have been fully immunized against hepatitis B. A student who has previously had three doses of hepatitis B vaccine at any age before seventh grade shall not be required to receive any additional shots.

5. Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

Any student admitted at the kindergarten level or above before July 1, 2001, shall be exempt from this requirement for school entry.

Students who skipped kindergarten shall meet immunization requirements for hepatitis B and a second measles dose prior to entering first grade.

Students transferring into the district at a grade other than kindergarten or seventh grade shall be exempt from the requirement for a second measles dose or hepatitis B immunization.

Immunizations Below Kindergarten Level

Children younger than age four years, six months shall have received haemophilus influenza type b (Hib meningitis) vaccine. (Health and Safety Code 120335)

Other immunization requirements for children below kindergarten level depend on the child's age as specified in 17 CCR 6020.

Exemptions

Exemption from immunization requirements is allowed when: (Health and Safety Code 120365, 120370, 120375; 17 CCR 6051)

1. The student's parent/guardian states in writing that immunization is contrary to his/her beliefs.

(cf. 6141.2 - Recognition of Religious Beliefs and Customs)

2. The student's parent/guardian provides a written statement by a licensed physician that the physical condition or medical circumstances of the student are such that immunization is unsafe or is permanently not indicated.

However, if there is good cause to believe that the student has been exposed to one of the communicable diseases listed above, the student may be temporarily excluded from school until the local health officer is satisfied that the student is no longer at risk of developing the disease. (Health and Safety Code 120365)

Exclusions Due to Lack of Immunizations

Any student without the required evidence of immunization may be excluded from school until the immunization is obtained or until the student presents a letter or affidavit of exemption from his/her parent/guardian or physician.

(cf. 5112.2 - Exclusions from Attendance)

(cf. 6183 - Home and Hospital Instruction)

Before a student is excluded from school attendance because of lack of immunization, the Superintendent or designee shall notify the parent/guardian that he/she has 10 school days in which to supply evidence of proper immunization or an appropriate letter of exemption. This notice shall refer the parent/guardian to the child's usual source of medical care. (Education Code 48216; 17 CCR 6040)

If no usual source of medical care exists, the parent/guardian shall be referred to the county health department. (Education Code 48216)

Conditional Enrollment

The Superintendent or designee may conditionally admit a student with documentation from a physician that: (Health and Safety Code 120340; 17 CCR 6000, 6035)

1. He/she has received some but not all required immunizations and is not due for any vaccine dose at the time of admission

2. He/she has a temporary exemption from immunization for medical reasons

The Superintendent or designee shall notify the student's parents/guardians of the date by which the student must complete all the remaining doses when they become due as specified in 17 CCR 6035.

The Superintendent or designee shall review the immunization record of each student admitted conditionally every 30 days until that student has received all the required immunizations. If the student does not receive the required immunizations within the specified time limits, he/she shall be excluded from further attendance until the immunizations are received. (Health and Safety Code 120375; 17 CCR 6070)

Records

The Superintendent or designee shall record each new entrant's immunizations in the mandatory permanent student record. district staff shall maintain the confidentiality of immunization records and may disclose such information to state and local health departments only in accordance with law. (Health and Safety Code 120375, 120440; 17 CCR 6070)

(cf. 5125 - Student Records)

Regulation PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

approved: May 24, 2001 Palo Verdes Estates, California