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About 2,700 students expected to attend Springfield Public Schools this fall have not yet been properly immunized.
The district recently sent notices to the families of those students, urging them to obtain the required shots or produce the paperwork showing they've already complied.
State law requires children to submit paperwork showing adequate immunization prior to starting the school year.
With recent changes to the list of required immunizations -- adding a shot for incoming kindergarten and eighth-grade students -- the district is making it easier to comply.
Free immunization clinics were offered at the middle schools in May. Five additional clinics, one at each high school, start Monday.
"This is an annual thing we do. It's for anybody, in kindergarten through 12th grade, who needs a vaccine," said Jean Grabeel, coordinator of student health services for the 24,000-student district. "Normally, a child cannot enroll or attend school until they've shown proof of immunization."
The school board voted Tuesday to approve the first revision to an immunization policy adopted in 1994. The new version is consistent with current law and clarifies how parents need to document religious and medical exemptions.
It also brings the policy in line with legal requirements for the enrollment of children with parents in the military and homeless students.
"They're given a grace period," Grabeel said. "They can go ahead and enroll and attend as we help them get the immunizations they need or get the information."
Grabeel said "less than 1 percent" of parents object to immunizations for medical or religious reasons. Those that do simply fill out paperwork noting the objection but aren't required to provide information about the church or specific religious reason they object.
"It's really very few," said Grabeel, who didn't have a specific number available. "There is no specific religion that objects; it's parents who object."
Students who do not have proof of adequate immunization on file -- and don't fall into one of the exempted categories -- will be excluded from school the first day, Aug. 24, she said.
This summer, the district reviewed student health records to notify families of any gaps as well as changes for the 2010-11 school year.
All incoming eighth-grade students to have a Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) vaccine unless they have received a Td booster within the last two years.
"We've seen a rise in the number of pertussis cases, or whooping cough," she said. "Every kindergarten student must have two doses of chickenpox (vaccine) or a statement from their physician saying they've had it."
Grabeel said updated immunization information should be submitted to elementary schools by Aug. 9 and to middle schools and high schools before students pick up their fall schedules.
Students are not required to have seasonal or H1N1 flu vaccine to attend classes.
However, based on the high level of interest during the 2009-10 school year -- 10,010 doses were given to students and staff -- the district is looking at the possibility of expanding on-site flu vaccine clinics.
This year, the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine will be combined into one shot.
The district recently sent notices to the families of those students, urging them to obtain the required shots or produce the paperwork showing they've already complied.
State law requires children to submit paperwork showing adequate immunization prior to starting the school year.
With recent changes to the list of required immunizations -- adding a shot for incoming kindergarten and eighth-grade students -- the district is making it easier to comply.
Free immunization clinics were offered at the middle schools in May. Five additional clinics, one at each high school, start Monday.
"This is an annual thing we do. It's for anybody, in kindergarten through 12th grade, who needs a vaccine," said Jean Grabeel, coordinator of student health services for the 24,000-student district. "Normally, a child cannot enroll or attend school until they've shown proof of immunization."
The school board voted Tuesday to approve the first revision to an immunization policy adopted in 1994. The new version is consistent with current law and clarifies how parents need to document religious and medical exemptions.
It also brings the policy in line with legal requirements for the enrollment of children with parents in the military and homeless students.
"They're given a grace period," Grabeel said. "They can go ahead and enroll and attend as we help them get the immunizations they need or get the information."
Grabeel said "less than 1 percent" of parents object to immunizations for medical or religious reasons. Those that do simply fill out paperwork noting the objection but aren't required to provide information about the church or specific religious reason they object.
"It's really very few," said Grabeel, who didn't have a specific number available. "There is no specific religion that objects; it's parents who object."
Students who do not have proof of adequate immunization on file -- and don't fall into one of the exempted categories -- will be excluded from school the first day, Aug. 24, she said.
This summer, the district reviewed student health records to notify families of any gaps as well as changes for the 2010-11 school year.
All incoming eighth-grade students to have a Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) vaccine unless they have received a Td booster within the last two years.
"We've seen a rise in the number of pertussis cases, or whooping cough," she said. "Every kindergarten student must have two doses of chickenpox (vaccine) or a statement from their physician saying they've had it."
Grabeel said updated immunization information should be submitted to elementary schools by Aug. 9 and to middle schools and high schools before students pick up their fall schedules.
Students are not required to have seasonal or H1N1 flu vaccine to attend classes.
However, based on the high level of interest during the 2009-10 school year -- 10,010 doses were given to students and staff -- the district is looking at the possibility of expanding on-site flu vaccine clinics.
This year, the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine will be combined into one shot.
