According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health website regulations, children must receive certain required vaccinations, or they may not be able to enroll in school. Pennsylvania immunization laws are designed to protect school children from the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases and prevent potential outbreaks. Students are required to complete all necessary vaccinations before the start of the school year or, by the fifth day of the school year, follow a vaccination plan in line with medical recommendations. Students who do not receive the required vaccinations may face expulsion from school. In cases where a single-dose vaccine is required, students must complete the vaccination before the first day of school. It is advisable to consult a pediatrician to ensure compliance with school entry vaccination requirements.
Here is specific information regarding children’s immunizations on the Pennsylvania Department of Health website.
Question:
Which vaccines are required when a child enters a certified childcare facility?
Answer: Pennsylvania’s Child Care Law requires children to receive all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including hepatitis A and influenza vaccines.
Question:
How many vaccines does a child need to receive?
Answer: The number of vaccines varies depending on the type of combination vaccines administered. Most vaccines can prevent multiple diseases and can be administered in combination. For example, a dose of MMR can prevent measles, mumps, and rubella. There are many vaccine combinations to choose from.
Question:
Why do children need to be vaccinated when these diseases are already cured?
Answer: The diseases targeted for vaccination of children continue to affect children nationwide and globally. Vaccination is essential to prevent the devastating impacts of each disease.
Question:
Can I apply for an exemption for my child to be vaccinated?
Answer: Yes, if you have philosophical or religious beliefs against one or more vaccines, you can write an exemption letter. The letter must include an explanation and signature. Please note that if a disease outbreak occurs in a certified childcare facility, and your child has not been vaccinated against that disease, your child may be unable to attend the facility during the outbreak, which could last for several days, weeks, or months. Medical exemptions from vaccination are also possible. Medical exemptions must be diagnosed and signed by a doctor, explaining the harm immunization may cause to the child’s health.
Question:
Who is responsible for reviewing and ensuring that children comply with immunization records at certified childcare facilities?
Answer: In addition to parents or guardians, certified childcare facilities are responsible for ensuring that all records for participating children are up to date. The most recent immunization records are part of the facility’s licensing requirements. As a parent, it is important to provide the most up-to-date immunization records to the childcare facility after each vaccination.
For further inquiries, please contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health Immunization Division at 717-787-5681. For more information, visit the website: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/health/programs/immunizations.html