6,000 in Md. Suburbs Barred From Class

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6,000 in Md. Suburbs Barred From Class

Students Lack Required Proof of Vaccinations Despite Big Push by Schools

By Levine

Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 3, 2007; Page B01

Despite a " Herculean effort " to get the word out, more than 6,000 students

in Washington's land suburbs were excluded from class yesterday because

they failed to comply with a state vaccination requirement that took effect

with the new year.

Students in grades 6 through 9 who had not provided a record of chickenpox

and hepatitis B vaccinations -- or, in the case of chickenpox,

month-and-year documentation of when they had the disease -- were told they

could not return until they had the necessary paperwork in hand. The only

exceptions were to be those who arrived with proof that they have

appointments to get the shots by Jan. 22.

Some students were held for the day in special rooms or centers in their

schools. Others were sent home.

According to a preliminary count in Prince 's County, more than 4,000

students were without the vaccine records. Spokesman White said

administrators were discouraged by the lack of response from so many parents

despite repeated outreach and opportunities for free immunizations.

" With there not being a monetary barrier, it's just frustrating, " he said.

Statewide, students were given specific notes -- " letters of suspension " in

at least one county -- that administrators hope will get families' attention

in a way that months of announcements, calls, visits and admonitions from

principals have not.

" We've had quite a challenging day, " said Helen Monk, the health specialist

in the Frederick County schools, where 327 children remained out of

compliance. Although that figure was down by more than half the total just

before the holiday break, she sounded incredulous that anyone still needed

vaccinations.

" It's been a Herculean effort, " Monk said. " You wouldn't believe the time

and work that have gone into this. "

The numbers, which local school and health staff members spent frenetic

hours amassing yesterday, ranged from the low hundreds in some counties to

nearly 1,000 or more in other jurisdictions. State officials were not

tallying either the overall public count or that of private and parochial

students.

In St. 's County, 381 students had not met the requirement; in Anne

Arundel County, 993.

" It's so crucial for these students to be in school, " said Kathleen Lyon,

executive director of student services in St. 's. " They're ending the

first semester and preparing for exams. "

Montgomery County cut its total by nearly 90 percent from mid-December, to

about 500 students, who took home another warning letter from principals

yesterday after they were barred from class.

" It is of utmost importance that we receive the required documentation as

soon as possible to ensure that your child's instructional program will not

be further interrupted, " the letter concluded.

Hours later, schools spokesman reiterated that message.

" Parents have got to get these situations resolved with their students and

get these students back in school, " he said. " Every day missed is a problem

for them. "

Some jurisdictions are taking a lenient approach, viewing the weeks until

Jan. 22 as a grace period that allows flexibility. More than 1,600

County students hadn't supplied verification as of mid-December, the last

count available, but as officials called homes again yesterday, no one was

kept from class.

" We're assisting them to make appointments, " said Donna Heller, coordinator

for 's school health services. With the health department, the school

system has a free clinic scheduled tomorrow.

Chickenpox and hepatitis B were added to the state's vaccination schedule

for older students because of their potential risks and complications. The

District includes both for every grade. Virginia mandates hepatitis B

immunization for all students and chickenpox shots for those born after Jan.

1, 1997.

States usually set the start of school as the deadline for vaccinations, but

land delayed its date from the fall because of concerns that so many

children would fall short of the expanded requirement. By September 2009,

all grades will need to be immunized against the two infectious diseases to

begin school.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010201028.\

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