|
Immunization Rule Changes - Information for Schools
Several changes were recently made to North Carolina’s
immunization rules based on recommendations from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices. These rule changes were designed to help reduce the
incidence of pertussis (whooping cough) and mumps disease among
North Carolinians.
These rule changes will affect North Carolina's
children, adolescents and teens for the 2008-09 school year. Though
the responsibility of having the child immunized ultimately falls
to the parent or guardian, school nurses are encouraged to do
everything possible to reach the students (and their parents)
who will need to be vaccinated prior to elementary, 6th grade,
or college entry.
Tdap Vaccine Requirement:
Effective January 1, 2008, the administrative rule, 10A NCAC
41A.0401, has been changed, adding requirements for one booster
dose of Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis) vaccine to be given
to the following age groups:
- All individuals attending public school who
are entering the 6th grade on or after August 1, 2008, if five
years or more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria
toxoid
- All individuals not attending public schools
(i.e., private, home-school, non-traditional schools) who are
12 years of age on or after August 1, 2008, if five years or
more have passed since the last dose of tetanus/diphtheria toxoid.
- Individuals enrolling in college or university
for the first time on or after July 1, 2008, if a tetanus/diphtheria
toxoid or tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine has not been
administered within the past 10 years.
Mumps Vaccine Requirement:
This administrative rule change also impacts mumps vaccination.
Individuals are now required to receive a second dose of mumps
vaccine before enrolling in school, college or university for
the first time. However, any child entering school prior to July
1, 2008 is not required to receive a second dose of mumps vaccine.
Children were previously required to have only one dose of mumps
vaccine. Most children already receive two doses of the MMR vaccine
(measles-mumps-rubella) by age four. Therefore, this rule will
primarily affect children who received single antigen doses of
the vaccines. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, all children
entering school for the first time will need to have received
two doses of measles, two doses of mumps, and one dose of rubella
vaccine prior to entry.
These rule changes will affect North Carolina's children, adolescents
and teens for the 2008-09 school year. Though the responsibility
of having the child immunized ultimately falls to the parent or
guardian, school nurses are encouraged to do everything possible
to reach the students (and their parents) who will need to be
vaccinated prior to elementary, 6th grade, or college entry.
|
