Red Clay Consolidated School District

Parents and Students

Immunizations
Information for New Enterers to Delaware School Districts Including Kindergarten

 

Definition of School Enterer

"School Enterer" means any child between birth and twenty (20) years inclusive entering or being admitted to a Delaware school district for the first time, including but not limited to, foreign exchange students, immigrants, students from other states and territories and children entering from nonpublic schools.

Immunization and Physical Examination Requirements

Delaware Regulations 804, 805, and 815

 

DOE Regulation 804: Immunizations

• 2.1 All School Enterers shall have immunizations given up to four days prior to the minimum interval or age and shall include:
  • 2.1.1 Four or more doses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP, DTP, or other approved vaccine) or a combination of these vaccines. A booster dose of Td or Tdap (adult) is recommended by the Division of Public Health for all students at age 11 or five years after the last DTaP, DTP or DT dose was administered whichever is later. Notwithstanding this requirement:
    • 2.1.1.1  A child who received a fourth dose prior to his or her fourth birthday shall have a fifth dose;
    • 2.1.1.2  A child who received the first dose of Td (adult) at or after age seven may meet this requirement with only three doses of Td or Tdap (adult).
  • 2.1.2 Three or more doses of inactivated polio virus (IPV), oral polio vaccine (OPV), or a combination of these vaccines with the following exception: a child who received a third dose prior to the fourth birthday shall have a fourth dose.
  • 2.1.3 Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first dose should be administered on or after the age of 12 months. The second dose should be administered after the fourth birthday. Individual combination vaccines of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) may be used to meet this requirement.
    • 2.1.3.1 Disease histories for measles, rubella and mumps shall not be accepted unless serologically confirmed.
  • 2.1.4 Three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine.
    • 2.1.4.1 For children 11 to 15 years old age, two doses of a vaccine approved by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) may be used.
    • 2.1.4.2 Titers are not acceptable in lieu of completing the vaccine series and a disease history for Hepatitis B shall not be accepted unless serologically confirmed.
  • 2.1.5 Varicella vaccine is required beginning in the 2003-2004 school year with kindergarten. One grade shall be added each year thereafter so that by the 2015-2016 school year all children in grades kindergarten through 12 shall have received the vaccination. Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year new enterers into the affected grades shall be required to have two doses of the Varicella vaccine. The first dose shall be administered on or after the age of twelve (12) months and the second at kindergarten entry into a Delaware public school.

Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, a disease history for the Varicella vaccination must be verified by a health care provider to be exempted from the vaccination.

 

 

DOE Regulation 805: The School Health Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program

New school enterers shall provide tuberculosis screening results from either a Tuberculosis Test or the results of a Tuberculosis Risk Assessment administered within the past 12 months prior to school entry.

• 4.1.1 If the new school enterer is in compliance with the other school entry health requirements, a school nurse who is trained in the use of the Delaware Department of Education TB Risk Assessment Questionnaire for Students may administer the questionnaire to the student’s parent(s), guardian(s) or Relative Caregiver or to a new school enterer who has reached the statutory age of majority (18).
  • 4.1.1.1 If a student's parent(s), guardian(s) or Relative Caregiver or a student 18 years or older answers affirmatively to any of the questions, he/she shall, within two (2) weeks, provide proof of tuberculosis testing results or provide verification from a licensed health care provider or the Division of Public Health that the student does not pose a threat of transmitting tuberculosis to staff or other students.
• 4.2 School nurses shall record and maintain documentation relative to the School Health Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program.

DOE Regulation 815: Physical Examinations and Screening

• 1.1 All public school students shall have a physical examination that has been administered by a licensed medical physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant. The physical examination shall have been done within the two years prior to entry into school. Within fourteen calendar days after notification of the requirement for a physical examination, new enterers shall have received a physical examination or shall have a documented appointment with a licensed health care provider for a physical examination.
• 2.3 Lead Screening
  • 2.3.1 Children who enter school at kindergarten or at age 5 or prior, shall be required to provide documentation of lead screening as per 16 Del.C. Ch. 26.
    • 2.3.1.1 For children enrolling in kindergarten, documentation of lead screening shall be provided within sixty (60) calendar days of the date of enrollment. Failure to provide the required documentation shall result in the child's exclusion from school until the documentation is provided.
    • 2.3.1.2 Exemption from this requirement may be granted for religious exemptions, per 16 Del.C. §2603. 2.3.1.3 The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, 16 Del.C., Ch. 26, requires all health care providers to order lead screening for children at or around the age of 12 months of age.
  • 2.3.2 The school nurse shall document the lead screening on the Delaware School Health Record form. See 14 DE Admin. Code 811.

Information on this page maintained by Irene Hills