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CANTON — As a new school year approaches, St. Lawrence County’s Public Health officials are reminding parents that their child could be prohibited from attending school if required vaccinations are not up-to-date.
Students who are not in compliance have two weeks from the start of school to get their shots before they may face exclusion from school, according to county health officials.
Students enrolling from another state or country have up to 30 days, according to school entrance vaccination rules that are set by the state Health Department.
County Public Health Director Dana Olzenak said members of her staff have met with school superintendents and school nurses to emphasize the importance of getting students immunized.
“At every age, certain vaccines are needed,” Mrs. Olzenak said. “We are trying to get that information out to the public.”
Children should be immunized by their health care provider, if possible, said Rochelle Pratt, a county community health nurse.
However, the county can provide immunizations at a reduced cost or no cost to low-income families who qualify through the department’s Vaccine for Children Program. There is a sliding scale fee.
“We can immunize children here, but we are a provider of last resort,” Ms. Pratt said.
Records of immunizations for both children and adults can be accessed electronically on the New York State Immunization Information Systems. Health care providers and county health officials are allowed to input immunization data into the system.
School nurses have access to the records to see what immunizations a student may need, but they cannot input data, Mrs. Pratt said.
Some students may be exempted from immunizations for medical or religious reasons. Individual school districts determine whether exemptions are permitted.
Required immunizations include diptheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTP); tetanus and diptheria; polio vaccine; measles, mumps and rubella; hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox); meningococcal conjugate, haemophilus influenzae type b, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.
More information about state immunization requirements are available on the website: www.health.ny.gov/prevention/immunization/laws_regs.htm. Those with questions can also call St. Lawrence County Health Department at: 315-386-2325.