http://www.ohd.hr.state.or.us/news/2002/0208imm.htm

School exclusion day poses special challenges this year

A new childhood immunization requirement combined with a temporary shortage in vaccines are creating special challenges for this year's school exclusion day, according to public health officials at the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS).

On Feb. 20, children whose school or day care records show they are missing shots and who do not have an appropriate medical or religious exemption will be sent home. They cannot return until their immunization records have been updated.

 

"We expect to issue more exclusion orders than usual because not all seventh and eighth graders have completed their Hepatitis B series," said Grant Higginson, M.D., state public health officer in DHS.

 

Higginson believes the reason seventh and eighth graders are lacking Hepatitis B shots is that the requirement for seventh graders was new last year and the series of immunizations requires several visits to the health provider.

"Other factors are also creating special challenges for this year's school exclusion cycle," Higginson said. Nationally, a temporary shortage of adult tetanus-diphtheria and chickenpox vaccine is making it difficult for health providers to make sure patients are up-to-date on these shots, he said.

"Because of these shortages, we have temporarily suspended two requirements. One is for chickenpox vaccine and the other is adult tetanus-diphtheria vaccination for children over seven years."

Higginson emphasized that the deferments apply only to these specific vaccines and this year's exclusion cycle.

"If some medical providers are fortunate enough to have vaccine supplies on hand, they should go ahead and immunize children, because the shots protect them from getting sick," Higginson said. "On the other hand, we don't want to keep kids out of school if the vaccines aren't available."

Higginson said that 35,713 exclusion orders were issued and 6,878 children excluded from schools and children's facilities in 2001. School exclusions are a result of legislation passed in the 1980 legislative session for the purpose of protecting children and promoting public health.

Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their private provider, county health clinic or call Oregon SafeNet at 1 (800) SAFENET, or 1 (800) 723-3638. In the Portland metro area SafeNet can be reached at (503) 988-5858.

	Search Publications Health Topics A-Z Site Map Contact Us Oregon.gov Department of Human Services Oregon Health Services Questions regarding OHS: OHS Information Comments on this site: OHS Webmaster Last Modified 02/08/2002 14:11:28

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.