Wolf Administration, Carlisle School Leaders Team Up to Remind Parents That It’s Time for Back-to-School Vaccinations
Today, Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General Dr.
"It's very important for all young people to receive immunizations on time," said
A recent change in state regulations altered the provisional period in which students could attend school without their vaccinations from eight months to five days. Children in grades K-12 need the following immunizations for attendance: tetanus, diphtheria, polio, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), hepatitis B, and chickenpox.
Children entering the seventh grade also need additional immunizations of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) and tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap). If a child does not have at least one dose of the above vaccinations, he or she risks exclusion from school.
"In order to learn, grow, and achieve, students need to be healthy and well. Immunizations help ensure those conditions exist for all children in our schools," said
These requirements allow for the following exemptions: medical reason, religious belief, or philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction. Even if your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be excluded from school during an outbreak of vaccine preventable disease.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans, including those bought through the federal Marketplace, are required to cover school vaccinations as a free preventive service without charging a copayment or coinsurance, regardless of whether or not you have met your yearly deductible.
"When a new school year starts, there are many costs parents have to consider with textbooks, school supplies, and other expenses," Insurance Commissioner
It is important to make sure that the doctor or provider who administers the immunization is within your health insurance plan's network, or you may be responsible for the cost. More information on preventive services is available at HealthCare.gov.
Parents whose children meet the immunization requirements must call 1-877-PA-HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) to schedule an appointment. Parents should have their vaccination records available when they call to make an appointment. A parent/legal guardian must accompany the child receiving immunizations. DOH staff must be notified before the appointment if someone other than the child's parent/legal guardian will be accompanying him/her.
For more information, visit www.dontwaitvaccinate.pa.gov or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
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