On June 13, 2019, the New York State Legislature amended the State’s laws governing immunizations for school children. Effective immediately, a school is no longer permitted to exempt students from immunization requirements for students on the basis of religion.
If a student lacks the required immunizations and is not medically exempt from immunization, the new law requires that the student be excluded from school until the required immunizations are initiated. If a parent or person in parental relation can demonstrate that his or her child has received at least the first dose in each required immunization series, then the child may attend school during the immunization process. The Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices created the Recommended Immunization Schedules by which schools are to evaluate whether a student has age appropriate appointments scheduled. The schedule is located online at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html.
The East Greenbush Central School District has already sent letters to families who are impacted by this new state legislation. If you have any questions about immunization requirements, please contact our Health Services Department at 518-207-2070.
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