New Immunization Requirements for Newtown Students

By Jeff White

As kindergarten registration officially kicked off across Newtown this week, Dee Capole, the nurse supervisor for Newtown schools, emphasized the new immunization regulations required of all kindergarten and seventh grade students in the district.

Effective August 2000, all kindergarten student entering the school system must show proof of having received two doses of measles-containing vaccine, or have protection confirmed in writing by a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse based on specific blood testing by a certified laboratory.

In addition, kindergartners must show proof of at least four doses of DTP/DtaP vaccine and three doses of polio (IPV/OPV) with at least one dose given on or after the fourth birthday and before school entry.

All students born January 1, 1997 or later must show proof of immunity to chickenpox disease for entry into licensed pre-school programs and kindergarten.

The State of Connecticut has also passed new immunization requirements for entry into the seventh grade. All seventh grade students must show proof of immunity to chickenpox. In addition, all students entering the seventh grade must show proof of one dose of the Hepatitis B Vaccine before entry, with the completion of the three-dose series before entering the eighth grade in August, 2001.

Proof of immunization can come in several forms. Students can supply documentation of age-appropriate immunization, a blood test that shows past infection, or a statement signed and dated by a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse that the child has already had chickenpox based on family or medical history.

Age appropriate immunization includes one dose given on or after the student’s first birthday if they are under 13 years of age, or two doses given at least 30 days apart for students whose initial vaccination is at 13 years of age or older.

Dee Capole said this week that the state’s new immunization regulations come after almost three years of debate involving what time of year to release them. Initially, these requirements were meant to begin this current school year, but were postponed due to the fact that health officials would not have enough time to implement them. As is right now, said Ms Capole, announcing these changes at this stage in the school year will make it challenging for parents to get all requirements filled by the start of school in the fall.

But she is confident. “[The vaccines] should be easy enough to get,” she said. School nurses will be busy handing out letters to all fifth grade students, letting them know when their sixth grade physicals are due, in the hopes that many parents will opt to have their sixth graders undergo these immunizations ahead of time.

Ms Capole stressed the seriousness of the new vaccine requirements. Any students failing to give proof of meeting the requirements will not be able to attend school until the requirements are met.