Home › Parents › Student Health

Student Health

Immunization Information

The following general requirements and guidelines are used within the Richmond Community Schools to ensure that each student is properly immunized. Students moving into Richmond Community Schools from another Indiana school or from an out-of-state school shall be properly immunized as required by the Indiana State Board of Health.

 

 

 

Immunizations required by the Indiana State Board of Health at each grade level are as follows:

Preschool:     

  • 3 Hep B (Hepatitis B)
  • 4 DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis)
  • 3 Polio (Inactivated Polio)
  • 1 MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella)
  • 1 Varicella

Kindergarten and Grade 1:

  • 3 Hep B5 DTP
  • 5 DTaP
  • 4 Polio 
  • 2 MMR
  • 2 Varicella

Grade 2 to Grade 5:

  • 3 Hep B
  • 5 DTaP
  • 4 Polio
  • 2 MMR
  • 1 Varicella

Grade 6 through 12:

  • 3 Hep B
  • 5 DTaP
  • 4 Polio
  • 2 MMR
  • 2 Varicella
  • 1 Tdap (Tetanus & Pertussis)
  • 1 MCV (Meningococcal)

Hep B - Two dose alternative adolescent schedule (Recombivax HB given at age 11-15 years x 2 doses) is acceptable if properly documented.  

DTaP - Four doses of DTaP/DTP/DT are acceptable if 4th dose was administered on or after child's fourth birthday.  

Polio - Three doses of polio vaccine are acceptable if 3rd dose was administered on or after child's fourth birthday and the doses are all IPV or all OPV.  The 4th dose of polio vaccine must be administered on or after child's fourth birthday.  This applies only to kindergarten and 1st grade for 2011-2012.

MMR - If given as single antigen, 2 Measles, 2 Mumps and 1 Rubella required.

Varicella -  Physician documentation of disease history, including month and year, is proof of immunity for preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade. A signed statement from the parent/guardian indicating history of disease, including month and year is required for children in grades 2-12. Two doses of varicella vaccine separated by at least 3 months are recommended for all elementary-aged students.

Tdap - A Tdap booster can be given as early as 1 year after a Td vaccination.

A written record of a student's completed immunizations must be on file with his/her school office by the first day of school. Incomplete records may result in the student being excluded from school.

 For children who have delayed immunizations, please refer to the 2011 CDC “Catch-up Immunization Schedule” to determine adequately immunizing doses. All minimum intervals and ages for each vaccination as specified per 2011 CDC guidelines must be met for a dose to be valid. These guidelines can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm.

Parents are required to present a written statement of the student's immunizations accompanied by a physician's certificate or other documentation at the time of enrollment. Other documentation may include

    * an official school record from another school, or

    * electronic records maintained by Indiana State Board of Health (CHIRP).

Richmond Community Schools requires documentation for all immunizations by month, day and year.

In cases where the parent is unable to provide such documentation at enrollment, the school may grant a waiver for the student to attend for a period not to exceed twenty (20) days during which time the parent must obtain the documentation. No student will be allowed to attend school beyond this period without proof of immunization.

Exemptions to the immunization requirement shall be granted only for medical reasons, religious objection, or other reasons allowed by law. Parents seeking an exemption for one of these reasons must state their request in writing to the building principal.  This request must be updated yearly.  The physician's or parent's statement is to be kept at the school as part of the student's immunization record.

 

Medications Given at School

When circumstances prevent medication to be given at home and a physician orders the medication to be taken at school, the following guidelines must be followed:

1.         All medications (prescription or over-the-counter) must be brought to school and picked up by parent/guardian or responsible adult.  All prescription medications will be counted and verified with parent by school personnel.

2.        Non-prescription medication must be in original bottle with student’s name and accompanied by a parent/guardian permission note with recommended time and dosage.

3.        All medications must be accompanied by the medication form signed by the physician and parent/guardian. These forms are to be resubmitted at least annually or whenever there are medication changes. 

The above must be followed or the medication will not be given.

 

Vision

Indiana law also requires a vision screening of each student in kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 8th grades. All kindergarten students’ vision will be checked by an optometrist during the first two (2) weeks of school.  All 3rd and 8th grade students and any student exhibiting vision problems will be checked by the school nurse. A parent may request their child’s eyes be tested by telephoning or sending a note to their school.  The school nurse will make contact with parents if any vision problems are detected during the screening.