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5141.33 (R)ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZATIONS

In accordance with state law and accompanying regulations, the Meriden Board of Education requires each child to be protected by adequate immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, hemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella, pneumococcal diseases, meningococcal disease and any other vaccine required by the schedule for active immunization as determined by the Commissioner of Public Health pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-7f, prior to enrolling in any program or school under its jurisdiction.  

 

Among other requirements, before being permitted to enter seventh grade, the Board requires each child to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease.  The Board further requires each child to receive a second immunization against measles and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) before being permitted to enter seventh grade.

 

Further, each child must have received two doses of immunization against varicella before being permitted to enter kindergarten and seventh grade, and each child must have received two doses of immunization against rubella and mumps before being permitted to enter grades kindergarten through twelve.

 

By January 1 of each year, children aged 24-59 months enrolled in the Board’s preschool program must show proof of receipt of at least one dose of influenza vaccine between August 1 and December 31 of the preceding year.  All children aged 24-59 months who have not received vaccination against influenza previously must show proof of receipt of two doses of the vaccine the first influenza season that they are vaccinated.  Children seeking to enroll in the Board’s preschool program between January 1 and March 31 are required to receive the influenza vaccine prior to being permitted to enter the program.  Children who enroll in the preschool program after March 31 of any given year are not required to meet the influenza vaccine requirement until the following January.

 

Exemption from the pertinent requirements of these administrative regulations shall be granted to any child who, prior to enrollment:

 

  1. presents a certificate from a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or local health agency stating that initial immunizations have been given to such child and additional immunizations are in process under guidelines and schedules specified by the Commissioner of Health; or

 

  1. presents a certificate from a physician, physician assistant, or advance practice registered nurse stating that in the opinion of a such physician, such immunization is medically contraindicated because of the physical condition of such child; or

 

  1. presents a statement from the parents or guardian of such child that such immunization would be contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardian of such child, which statement shall be acknowledged by

 

(A) a judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate,

(B) a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal,

(C) a town clerk,

(D) a notary public,

(E) a justice of the peace,

(F) an attorney admitted to the bar of the State of Connecticut, or

(G) a school nurse; or

 

  1. in the case of measles, mumps or rubella, presents a certificate from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse or from the Director of Health in such child’s present or previous town of residence, stating that the child has had a confirmed case of such disease; or

 

  1. in the case of hemophilus influenzae type B, has passed his/her fifth birthday; or

(6) in the case of pertussis, has passed his/her sixth birthday.

Before being permitted to enter the seventh grade, the parents or guardian of any child who is exempt on religious grounds from the immunization requirements, pursuant to subsection (3) above, shall present to the Board a statement that such immunization requirements are contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardian of such child, which statement shall be acknowledged in the same manner as required by subsection (3) above.

 

In accordance with state law, the Meriden Public Schools Board of Education shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from an adverse reaction to a nondefective vaccine required to be administered by state law.

 

The Board of Education designates the school nurse or supervisor as the representative for receipt of reports from health care providers concerning student immunizations.

 

The regulations concerning required immunizations for elementary (including preschool), middle and high school students can be found at: http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/school_regulations_2010.pdf



Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

  • 10-204a Required immunizations
  • 10-204c Immunity from liability

 

Public Act 15-174, “An Act Concerning Childhood Vaccinations.”

Public Act 15-242, “An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes.”

Connecticut Agencies Regulations

  • 10-204a-2a Adequate Immunization

 

Letter to Superintendents of Schools et al. from Connecticut State Department of Education, Reinstatement of Prekindergarten and Kindergarten School Immunization Entry Requirement for Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib) Vaccine, June 25, 2010.

 

Letter to Superintendents of Schools et al. from Connecticut State Department of Education, Changes in the Immunization Requirements for School Entry, March 15, 2011.

 

Previous Policy Number: ID2.3-R