All students must be properly immunized
 

HUDSON — The Hudson Public Schools nurses are involved with making sure that all children in the system are properly immunized. With increasing health issues in the schools, it is vital for all children to be protected. The main goal is to keep children healthy enough to stay in school and in class. The Health Services Coordinator Kathleen Hassey, registered nurse, wants to alert parents that no children will be admitted to school in September without complete immunizations.

This specifically effects the seventh-graders, for whom the immunization requirements have changed in the last two years. Massachusetts General Law 76ss. 15 " no child shall be admitted to school except upon presentation of a physician’s certificate that the child has been successfully immunized... " The law and regulations provide for exclusion of students from school if immunizations are not up-to-date, but permit exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

We want to give parents as much advance notice as possible, therefore Mary Jenkinson, registered nurse, JFK school nurse, has mailed each sixth grade family the exact immunizations each child needs to begin school in September. We don’t want to follow others school districts, like Worcester, that was forced to send students home who did not have their immunizations up-to-date.

To insure that Hudson Public Schools follows the Massachusetts General Law, we target entry into school points such as kindergarten and transferring becomes an important year for several immunizations. The Hudson School Committee has reviewed our policy regarding immunizations and school entry, and agrees we must follow the law as it stands. Any questions can be directed to Kathleen Hassey at 978-567-6116.

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