Dallas ISD Announces Vaccination Requirements for 2006-2007

25 Jul 2006

All students are required to be immunized before school begins

DALLAS—Dallas Independent School District students must be immunized against vaccine preventable diseases prior to the start of classes Monday, Aug. 14, in order to comply with guidelines established by the Texas Department of Health.

All immunization records must be validated by a physician's signature or health clinic stamp. The month, day and year must be indicated on the record for each new immunization.

Children attending child-care facilities including Head Start and pre-kindergarten, will need to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and pneumococcal disease for the first time this fall. Designed to prevent childhood diseases, the immunization requirements for the 2006-2007 school year include:

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• Diphtheria-Tetanus—Students under age seven, five doses of the vaccine unless the fourth dose was given on or after the fourth birthday. For students age seven and older: three doses of the vaccine with one dose since the fourth birthday, and every 10 years thereafter.
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• Poliomyelitis-Four doses of the vaccine unless the third dose was on or after the fourth birthday.
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• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)–Two doses with the first one on or after the first birthday; second dose by age five or enrollment into kindergarten.
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• Haemophilus Influenza (Hib) Type B-For students 15 months of age through four years, one dose of Haemophilus Influenza type B conjugate since 15 months of age, or a series of three doses before 15 months of age.
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• Hepatitis B-Three doses are required for all students
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• Varicella-One dose on or after first birthday in grades K-4 and 7–10. Two doses if vaccine is started at 13 years of age or older.
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• Pneumococcal- One dose after 24 months of age or a minimum of three doses after 12 months of age.
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• Hepatitis A- Two doses required for students age 24 months through pre-kindergarten. Kindergarten through 12th grade, two doses recommended, but not required.
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Exemptions:

Exemption from immunization requirements may be granted for medical or religious reasons. Under state law, parents may claim conscientious objection when requesting a waiver from immunizations for their children. Parents must ask the Texas Department of Health in writing for the waiver and provide the original, notarized form to the school nurse or campus administrator before the child can be enrolled in school.

For more information regarding immunizations and free immunization clinics scheduled, check with the local school nurse.

A 30-day provisional enrollment is available to the following student groups.

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• Students transferring from one Texas school to another Texas school.
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• Homeless students, students who are defined as homeless according to the federal McKinney-Ventro Act 42 U.S.C. Section 111434a.
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