Schools

Pa. Issues New School Immunization Requirements

The changes will affect K through 12 students, with additional requirements for kids entering 7th grade. They are effective August 1.

Lower Merion Township officials late Monday said that the Pennsylvania State Department of Health is changing its school immunization requirements for student vaccines, effective Aug. 1.

In a statement, the township said the changes were made “to update the Pennsylvania school immunization requirements to more closely match recommendations by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.”

Changes would affect some students from kindergarten through senior year of high school, additional requirements for students entering 7th grade.

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“The Montgomery County Health Department suggests that parents review their children's records now, while they are still in school, to see if their child has the required vaccines.”

For attendance in all grades for 2011 and 2012, children are required to have:

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  • 4 doses of tetanus (1 dose on or after 4th birthday)
  • 4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose on or after 4th birthday)
  • 3 doses of polio
  • 2 doses of measles
  • 2 doses of mumps
  • 1 dose of rubella (German measles)
  • 3 doses of hepatitis B
  • 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or history of disease

Additionally, children attending 7th grade in 2011 and 2012 are required to have:

  • 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (if 5 years has elapsed since last tetanus immunization)
  • 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine

For more information, visit the Montgomery County Heath Department and / or the CDC.


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