Health Mandates
Immunization
ALLEGHENY COUNTY SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
28 PA.Code, Chapter 23, Chapter C requires that all children, Kindergarten through 12th , including all public, private, parochial, intermediate unit and home schooled students, show written proof of immunizations before they can attend school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Your child will not be permitted to attend school until proof of immunizations have been submitted and approved by the Certified School Nurse. Please contact your child’s school nurse; the Allegheny County Health Department or your child’s Primary Caregiver with any questions or concerns.
Students who are entering school are required to have the following properly spaced vaccines:
- 4 doses of Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular pertussis
- 1 dose on or after 4th birthday; 3 doses if series started on or after 7 years of age
- 4 doses of Polio
- 4th dose on or after 4th birthday or 3 doses if last one is on or after 4th birthday with proper spacing
- 2 doses of Measles, Mumps, Rubella (usually given as MMR)
- 1st one on or after 1st birthday
- 3 doses of Hepatitis B with proper spacing
- 2 doses of Varicella (chicken pox)
- 1st one on or after 1st birthday
- OR written statement from physician/designee/parent indicating month and year of disease
- OR serologic proof of immunity
Students entering GRADE 7 are required to have the following vaccines in addition to the above vaccines:
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1 dose of Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Tdap)
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1 dose of Meningitis (MCV4)
Students entering GRADE 12 are required to have the following vaccine in addition to the above vaccines:
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2nd dose of Meningitis (MCV4)
A child entering school on the first day must have had at least one dose of the above vaccinations or risk exclusion.
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If the child does not have all the doses listed above, and the next dose is medically appropriate, (with the proper spacing), the child must receive that dose within the first five days of school or risk exclusion
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If the next dose is not the final dose of the series and/or the next dose is not medically appropriate, the child must provide a medical plan, signed by a Pennsylvania Licensed Physician, Physicians Assistant and/or Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner indicating when and/or if the immunization will be administered. This medical plan is due within the first five days of school or risk exclusion.
The Allegheny County Health Department (412-578-8060) is available to provide school required vaccines to children. Please refer to their website (https://www.alleghenycounty.us/healthdepartment).
MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS
Only Pennsylvania Licensed Physicians, Doctors of Osteopathy, Physicians Assistant, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners and/or designated Health Department personnel can sign for medical exemptions. Chiropractor’s certifications for medical exemptions are not acceptable. A medical exemption for a specific antigen (s) should be documented in the statement of exemption. All other immunizations are still required.
RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS
Statements of religious exemptions or strong or ethical conviction opposing immunization must be submitted in writing and signed by a parent/guardian, stating reason and to which vaccines the child is exempt from.
If a child is exempt (medical or religious) from immunizations, he/she/they may be removed from school during a disease outbreak.
8/2021
Health Requirements/Screenings
HEALTH MANDATES
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
According to Pennsylvania School Health Chapter 23 - Section 1402, the following screenings and examinations are mandated for school age children. The screenings are performed by the certified school nurses and their assistants and should not be substituted for regular check-ups with your child’s physician. The examinations need to be performed by a Physician/Physician’s Assistant/Certified Nurse Practitioner/Dentist. A chiropractor exam is not acceptable for a child’s physical examination.
SCREENINGS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12:
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Height/Weight/BMI (Body mass index)
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Vision
SCREENINGS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-3; 7 AND 11 (and new students):
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Hearing
SCREENING FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 6 AND 7(and new students):
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Scoliosis
If a student does not pass any portion of the mandated screenings, a referral will be sent home to the parent/guardian.
If a parent/guardian/teacher has any concerns regarding a vision or hearing issue, please contact that child’s certified school nurse to discuss.
EXAMINATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K, 6 AND 11
NOTE: 6th grade exams should include a scoliosis screening
EXAMINATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K, 3 AND 7
NEW STUDENTS:
It is recommended that these examinations be completed by your private physician/dentist who is more familiar with your child’s medical history. The required examinations may be done within one year from the start of the child’s current school year.
If you are unable to have these examinations completed by your child’s private physician/dentist, our school physician and/or dentist will be able to complete the examination (at no cost to the parent/guardian) with a parent/guardian permission form completed.
6/2021; 8/2021;3/2022