Re: More nutty vaccine news from AZ (teachers/school staff)

[Guest guest]

You are so right....nutty news.

Why I don't understand is why nobody stops to think " Hmmm....people

need another dose at 11 years old? What does that mean for the

teachers/school staff/parents that DIDN'T get one at 11 years old?

Are they no longer immune? " Even if I didn't know anything about

vaccines, I know that it would make me think along those lines.

>

> From today's Arizona Republic (Phoenix) newspaper ~ Becca

>

> New immunization requirements for 6th graders

>

> by Gordon - Jul. 21, 2008 06:24 PM

> The Arizona Republic

>

> New immunization requirements from the Arizona Department of Health

Services

> for sixth graders takes effect Sept. 1, health officials said.

>

> Children who are in sixth grade and are 11 years old have to get

one dose of

> meningococcal vaccine and one dose of Tdap- tetanus, diphtheria and

pertussis

> vaccine. The Arizona Department of Health said the new rule goes

effect Sept.

> 1, but recommends children be vaccinated before school starts. If a

sixth

> grader is 10 years old, the child is required to get the shot

within a month after

> turning 11 years old.

>

> Although Sept. 1 is the deadline for sixth graders, other students

are

> required to have their immunizations current by the start of

school.

>

> " The 'Sept. 1st' wording in the new rule was intended to

communicate that the

> vaccines would be required at the onset of the new school year, "

said

> Ralston-King, ADHS immunization assessment coordinator.She

added that

> current students 11 years and older and in any grade, need a Tdap

if 10 years have

> passed since the student's last DTaP/DTP or Td dose.

>

> Ultimately, the health department said it is up to the school

district to

> decide if a sixth grade child can attend school until Sept. 1

without having

> their meningococcal and Tdap shots.

>

> Because of the confusion, the Litchfield Elementary School District

will

> allow all children to start school, no matter their vaccination

status, said

> nne Lein, the district's superintendent.

>

> " If the child is in the process of being immunized we'll let them

start

> school, " Lein said. " We want to make sure none of our youngsters

are left out of

> school. "

>

> The district is in the process of alerting parents and local

physicians of

> the new requirements.

>

> " There is a discrepancy between the national and state vaccination

> requirements, " Lein said. She said some children were denied the

shot because their

> pediatrician was not aware of the new requirement.

>

> Lein said the district is in the process of providing a free shot

clinic,

> although no date is set.

>

> " Right now the dilemma is trying to find a provider who has a large

enough

> quantity, " she said. " Our nurses will vaccinate the children. "

>

> State law requires school districts to have personal release forms

for

> children whose parents' personal beliefs contradict the rule,

medical reasons or

> evidence of immunity, Ralston-King said.

>

> " It is the schools' responsibility to collect information from the

family, "

> said Ralston-King, but added no fine or penalty system is in place

to keep

> districts in check. " Under Arizona law, students who do not present

proof of

> immunization are not allowed to start school. "

>

> For more information about shot requirements or to find out if your

child's

> vaccinations are up to date with state requirements visit

> www.azdhs.gov/phs/immun.

>

>

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/07/21/20080721vaccines0722

..html

>

>

>

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