tdap school requirements

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So we had a new student from out of the country enroll into Jr. High from out of the country with no immunizations. Because she was 11 when she got her TDAP, the doctors office states that only one dose is required followed by a booster in 10 years. However, when looking at the CA ed code on immunization it says she needs 3 doses of either TDAP or TD to complete her series. Does anyone know what the official requirement is?

Just curious - so what do you do with those parents that are antivax or those delaying for whatever reason - do they just attend private school or homeschooled in the states without an official exemption?

In Illinois, religious and medical exemptions are allowed but need documentation. A dr needs to write the specific reason why a vaccine is contraindicated or a parent needs to write a letter stating that vaccinations are against their religious beliefs. As of October 15, 2015, parents will also be required to submit a form signed by their doctor that states the dr informed them of the risks of not vaccinating and yada yada.

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Specializes in School Nurse.
So we had a new student from out of the country enroll into Jr. High from out of the country with no immunizations. Because she was 11 when she got her TDAP, the doctors office states that only one dose is required followed by a booster in 10 years. However, when looking at the CA ed code on immunization it says she needs 3 doses of either TDAP or TD to complete her series. Does anyone know what the official requirement is?

I am in a Middle School and deal with this frequently. The State of Ohio also requires 3 doses - at least 1 of those doses has to be Tdap. Generally the students coming from other countries get the Tdap as part of the immigration process, followed by 2 doses of Td once they get here.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
Just curious - so what do you do with those parents that are antivax or those delaying for whatever reason - do they just attend private school or homeschooled in the states without an official exemption?

Honestly, most of them google the religious exemption note that can be found on a zillion websites. They will ask me how to go about getting religious exemption sometimes when they realize they they need a few more shots at kindergarten age. I am usually not terrible helpful. I figure people should know how to use google on their own.

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You are correct. The docs sometimes aren't used to seeing children with no immunization history. In my state we give kids with no vaccination record a 3 dose primary Tdap/Td series if they are age 7 or over. 1 dose Tdap, followed by Td 1 month later, then 2nd dose of Td 6 months after that. (Only if they have not completed the primary Dtap series as a child. If they have had the complete primary series then they are done for 10 years after the Tdap booster)

If they have any childhood Dtap doses but an incomplete series you can count those doses as well toward the 3 dose primary series. You can also count a Td booster if that was given first (often many kids come to us with a Td given at immigration), as long as 1 of the 3 doses is Tdap.

Ex #1: A kid with 1 childhood Dtap on their record would get a Tdap, then a Td 6 months later.

Ex #2: A kid with no Dtap history got a dose of Td at immigration. You would give them a Tdap 1 month after that, then another Td another 6 months later to complete the series.

We follow the CDC recommendations.

I wish it was just all Tdap and no Td. With pertussis outbreaks all the time and proof of rapidly waning immunity, I just don't get the once in a lifetime Tdap booster recommendation. But I'm just a worker bee ;-)

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
NY doesn't really exempt. You either get it or you're out.

What happens with kids who (according to the CDC) should not get the shot (those who have had life threatening allergic reactions or neurological concerns following previous doses)?

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What happens with kids who (according to the CDC) should not get the shot (those who have had life threatening allergic reactions or neurological concerns following previous doses)?

Medical exemption.

Or they move to Jersey. :woot:

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
Medical exemption.

Or they move to Jersey. :woot:

Oh okay. Sounded at first like you meant that they didn't even have medical exemption!

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Oh okay. Sounded at first like you meant that they didn't even have medical exemption!

It's rare.

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