Public Health – Seattle & King County is calling on families in King County to get prepared for the new school year by making sure their children’s immunizations are up-to-date.
Immunizations are a very safe and effective way to keep children healthy and in school. Whether you’re a student entering college, or a parent enrolling your child in childcare or school, you should be checking to see if immunization records are up-to-date.
School requirements for this fall
This fall, all students entering kindergarten through eighth grade will be required to show proof of having received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine, five doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis-containing vaccines plus one dose of Tdap (on or after 11 years of age, grades 6-12), four doses of polio vaccine and two doses of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Additionally, students entering kindergarten through eighth grade will need to show proof of having received two doses of chickenpox (varicella) vaccine or health care provider verification of disease. Documentation of having received two doses of varicella vaccine is recommended, but not required, for students in ninth-12th grades.
Check with your health care provider to get the vaccines your child may need for school this fall.
Risks of not vaccinating
Parents or legal guardians have the right to choose not to immunize their children, based on medical, religious or philosophical reasons. There are risks, however, when choosing against vaccination. Unimmunized or partially immunized individuals are at increased risk of becoming infected with a vaccine-preventable disease if exposed to the illness and spreading the disease to others. Individuals with weakened immune systems or long-term health conditions are at greatest risk of serious complications from disease. For their own protection and to prevent spread of the disease, children who are not fully immunized may be excluded from attending school or childcare when cases or outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases occur.
To exempt their child from receiving one or more vaccines required for school entry, parents or legal guardians must complete and sign a Certificate of Exemption Status form (COE). For most exemptions, a licensed health care provider must also sign the COE verifying that the parent or guardian received information about the benefits and risks of vaccination.
For more information on the 2015-2016 vaccine requirements for childcare, preschool and school attendance in Washington state, visit this website for links to specific vaccines required for different age groups.
