School Nurses

PA Department of Health Requirements

In accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Health regulations, students enrolled in public schools are required have records of specific immunizations and health exams in their school health records. Copies of these records can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to the school. If emailing, please scan or take photos of the forms and sent them as attachments.

Email – healthrecords@insightpa.org
Fax – 717.260.5258

Immunizations

For Enrollment in Any Grade (K-12)

On the first day of school, a child must have had at least one dose of these vaccinations or risk withdrawal.

4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday; usually given as DTP or DTaP or if medically advisable, OT or Td)
4 doses of polio (a fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose)
2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella (Usually given as MMR)
Evidence of immunity may be shown by a history of measles and rubella immunity proved by laboratory testing by a laboratory with the appropriate certification and a written statement of a history of mumps disease from a physician, certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
3 doses of hepatitis B
2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) – Evidence of immunity may be shown by laboratory evidence of immunity or laboratory confirmation of disease or a written statement of a history of chickenpox disease from a parent, guardian, physician, certified registered nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

For Enrollment in 7th Grade

In addition to the immunizations listed in the section above, the following immunizations are required as a condition of entry for students entering the 7th grade or in the school year that the student is 12 years of age:

1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) on or after the 11th birthday.
1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) on or after the 11th birthday.

For Enrollment in 12th Grad

In addition to the immunizations listed in the sections above the following additional immunization is required for entry into 12th grade or in the school year that the student is 18 years of age:

1 dose of MCV on the first day of 12th grade. If one dose was given at 16 years of age or older, that shall count as the twelfth-grade dose.
If the child has not received a previous dose on or after the child’s 16th birthday. A dose of MCV received at 16 years of age or older shall count as the 12th grade dose.

Additional Information

Students have a five-day provisional period to obtain required immunizations. If a child does not have all the doses listed above, needs additional doses, and the next dose is not medically appropriate, the child must provide a medical plan (red and white card) within the first five days of school for obtaining the required immunizations or risk withdrawal from school.
A vaccine dose administered within the 4-day period prior to the minimum age for the vaccination or prior to the end of the minimum interval between doses shall be considered a valid dose of the vaccine for purposes of this chapter. A dose administered greater than 4 days prior to minimum age or interval for a dose is invalid for purposes of this regulation and shall be repeated.
For more information on the vaccines your child needs in order to attend school, talk to your healthcare provider, school nurse, or call 1-877-PA-Health for more information.

Exceptions

If a student is experiencing homelessness, the student is entitled to immediate enrollment in school without any proof of immunizations or other documents normally required for enrollment. There is no time limit to obtain vaccines for a student experiencing homelessness, however vaccines are required to remain enrolled. Oral confirmation between professionals is sufficient to verify immunization, with written confirmation to follow within 30 days. Insight PA Cyber Charter School’s McKinney Vento (MKV) Liaison will assist children and youth who do not have immunizations or immunizations or medical records to obtain necessary immunizations or immunizations or medical records.
If a child is in foster care, a parent, foster parent, or representative of the child welfare agency must provide the school with a student’s immunization record within 30 days of a student’s admission into school, or the student may then be excluded from school. Schools have a legal obligation to assist both students in foster care and those experiencing homelessness to obtain their immunization records.
If a student is moving or transferring into a school in the Commonwealth and is unable to provide immunization records immediately upon enrollment in the school, the child’s parent or guardian shall have 30 days to provide immunization records or a medical certificate, or to complete an exemption.
Children need not be immunized if a physician or the physician’s designee provides a written statement that immunization may be detrimental to the health of the child. When the physician determines that immunization is no longer detrimental to the health of the child, the child shall be immunized according to this subchapter. To qualify for this exception, the legal guardian must complete the state Exemption from Immunization Form and attach the required physician written statement to the student’s assigned school nurse.
Children need not be immunized if the parent, guardian or emancipated child objects in writing to the immunization on religious grounds or on the basis of strong moral or ethical conviction similar to religious belief. To qualify for this exception, the legal guardian must complete the state Exemption from Immunization Form and submit it to the student’s assigned school nurse.