Immunizations
The control of communicable diseases is one of the original reasons nurses were placed in the school setting. This is one area we are totally responsible for. Administrators rely on the nurse to be the gatekeeper for maintaining school compliance thereby limiting the spread of diseases.
Most parents are diligent in getting their infants and young children immunized in a traditional, sequential manner. However, there remain today many who doubt the need for some or all immunizations. Parents can delay, or avoid altogether, immunizing but must educate their child. School attendance requires certain vaccines and you, as the school nurse, will be viewed as the enforcer of these regulations.
To fulfill this responsibility, you must be certain about current state requirements.
Before beginning this assignment, reference the following:
• CDC’s schedules of recommended immunizations for children.
• NJ Promoting Health – School Nurse Practice Guidelines
• 6A: 16 – 2.2 Required Health Services
• NJSSNA – Immunization Toolkit-Graphs and Schedules-Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for Ages 18 and younger.
Answer the following questions and cite references:
1. What is the overall goal in requiring school children to be immunized?
2. What documents can be accepted as evidence of immunizations?
3. How/where should immunizations be recorded?
4. What should be done if a student does not receive the required immunization?
5. Identify the provisions for a medical exemption.
6. Identify the provisions for a religious exemption.
7. Can a student attend school with no history of immunizations being given?
8. Should you permit immunization audits by authorized personnel?
9. If a child sees a pediatrician from a different state that does not have the same requirements as New Jersey, what regulations should be followed?
10. Should original records be forwarded to receiving schools?
