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October 18, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Some States Have Modified Their School Immunization Laws" Infectious Diseases in Children (www.idinchildren.com) (09/02) Vol. 15, No. 9, P. 74; Bechtel, Bryan

A number of states have changed their entry requirements for schoolchildren this year in the wake of recent vaccine shortages, with varying degrees of leniency.  Though most vaccine shortages have now been alleviated, the current school year regulations have been put into effect and most students are likely to slip through until next year before their immunizations are due.  Some 12 states are permitting children to join their vaccinated classmates with special permission, while about six states have waived the requirements altogether for a number of illnesses. Though it was announced in January that some of the vaccines and boosters would lose one producer, it has taken the lone remaining vaccine maker, Aventis, some time to ramp up production because the toxoids necessary to create the vaccines take months to grow.

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