Lehighton district reminds parents of immunization requirements

Lehighton Area School District is notifying parents of updated immunization requirements for the 2018-19 school year.

As of the 2017-18 school year, Pennsylvania has new immunization requirements. The change in immunizations will affect high school students by requiring an additional dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (meningitis/MCV) given after age 16, but before the start of 12th grade.

The first dose of the meningitis vaccine is given before entrance into seventh grade, middle school. At the same time in middle school, one dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) is required for the start of seventh grade.

Also now required at all grade levels, a fourth dose of polio vaccine given on or after the child’s 4th birthday and at least six months after the previous dose.

All of these vaccines are required for a student to continue to attend school anywhere in Pennsylvania.

Parents and guardians are asked to please contact your family doctor to obtain this information or schedule an appointment. Proof of the above immunizations should be sent to the school nurse in your child’s building.

Any child not meeting the above state requirements for the 2018-19 school year will be excluded from attendance on the first day of school according to Pennsylvania law, so don’t wait to submit the required proof. If your child has medical assistance, the Pennsylvania Department of Health offers an immunization clinic once a month.

Contact them at 570-325-6106 for further information or schedule an appointment.