Parents: New PA Health Rule Allows Schools to Turn Away Your Child if He or She is Not Up to Date with Required Vaccinations

Pennsylvania has a new health statute requiring that all children be up-to -date with their vaccinations by the first day of school or schools can turn them away. Unlike the eight-month grace period in the past, schools will only permit a 5 day grace period. The new Pennsylvania immunization requirements for the 2017-2018 school year are as follows:

• Vaccines are required on the first day of school
• A child must have at least one dose of all vaccinations or risk exclusion
• A child may have a documented medical, religious, or philosophical exemption from these vaccinations even if exempt, a child may be excluded from school during an outbreak of vaccine-preventable disease

If a child does not have required doses, they must do the following within the first 5 days of school:

• Receive the next dose, if medically appropriate
• Have a parent/guardian provide a medical plan if the next dose isn’t the final dose of the series
• Have a parent/guardian provide a medical plan if the next dose is not medically appropriate

The chart below lists the specific vaccinations, grades, and doses required:

Vaccinations are crucial to prevent diseases that can be very serious, may require hospitalization, and can even be deadly, especially in young children. The vaccinations above can help protect children against 14 serious childhood diseases, including a whooping cough, measles, mumps, and meningitis, to name a few. Keeping your children up-to-date with these immunizations will not only ensure they start school on time but can also save their life.