WHEN?

Monday, September 13, 2010                 2pm to 7 pm

Tuesday, September 14, 2010                2pm to 7 pm

Wednesday, September 15, 2010           2pm to 7 pm   

WHERE?

Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department

100 Central Avenue

Cheyenne, WY 82007

633-4000

WHO CAN COME?

Any student in Laramie County who comes with their parent/guardian

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

1.  Latest immunization (shot) record from their healthcare provider or the child’s school

2.  Signed forms: can be obtained from their child’s school or is available on the school district website under “School Health Services”

PLEASE NOTE:

These clinics are only for these two vaccines that have been added to the school attendance requirements.

Questions: Call 633-4000 or talk to your child’s school nurse

Friday, August 27, 2010

Contact: Kim Deti

Phone: 307-777-6420

Immunization Rules Updated to Help Protect Wyoming Kids

State rules for required and recommended immunizations have been updated by the Wyoming Department of Health to help protect Wyoming kids from a number of diseases.

“We want to ensure that our state’s children have the best possible protection from vaccine-preventable illnesses,” said Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health officer. “It’s been nearly a decade since our immunization rules have been updated and what we’ve added reflects new medical advancements.”

 Sherard said one of the most significant changes is the requirement of two doses of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for children before they attend school. “The varicella vaccine is nothing new and has been around since 1995. It has been on our recommended list of vaccines for many years and now we’re simply making it a requirement and following national expert advice to include two doses.”

Another new update is that students entering the seventh grade must now have a Tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster shot.  “One of the diseases this vaccine helps protects youth from is whooping cough, which has been on the rise nationally in recent years,” Sherard said. He noted the Tdap vaccine has also been “recommended” for many years and has been widely administered in Wyoming.

Under Wyoming’s immunization rules, parents need to provide proof of required immunizations within the first 30 days after school begins.  Students who have not turned in an immunization record or are not up-to-date on their immunizations will not be allowed to attend school.  Students in the process of completing an immunization series may continue going to attend school.

Wyoming does offer limited medical and religious exemptions from the state’s immunization rules. Should a disease outbreak occur in a school, students with religious or medical immunization exemptions will not be able to go to school until the outbreak is over. If a student has had chickenpox and does not need the varicella vaccine, parents, guardians, school nurses, or physicians may sign a verification statement for the student’s school record. 

“Vaccines are a true public health success story. However, because they have been so successful in preventing disease in our country, some times people may not realize their children could still be at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases,” Sherard said. “The threats are still out there and we must keep up our efforts to protect our children with immunizations.”

“The vaccines we’ve added to our ‘required’ list are excellent, well proven vaccines,” he added.

In Wyoming, the Wyoming Vaccinates Important People (WyVIP) program provides both required and recommended vaccines at no cost to resident families at nearly 130 participating healthcare provider offices. Children are eligible for the free vaccines from birth until the day before the 19^th birthday. While providers may charge a small administrative fee (less than $15), the cost of the vaccine is covered by a combination of state and federal funding.

More information about Wyoming’s immunization rules, recommended vaccine schedules and exemption forms can be found online from the Wyoming Department of Health at www.immunizewyoming.com.

August 27, 2010

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS

            According to the Wyoming Department of Health, new school immunization rules have recently taken effect in the state.  

            Parents and guardians need to be aware that:

1.    Two varicella (chickenpox) vaccinations will be required for ALL students attending school.

2.    Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine) will be required for all incoming 7^th grade students unless they have had a Tetanus shot within the previous 2 years. For example, a student may have had a tetanus shot when they had an injury or required stitches and may not be able to have a Tdap.

3.    Parents/Legal Guardians/Managing Conservator, Physicians or School Nurses may verify that the student has had chickenpox by signing a “Varicella Verification Statement” that is on the reverse side of this letter. This completed form must be returned to the school nurse.

4.    With this change, parents/guardians will have 30 days for their children to receive these mandatory immunizations to remain in school.

5.    The deadline for getting the necessary vaccines is September 24, 2010.

6.    According to Wyoming State Law, on Monday, September 27, 2010 students not in compliance will be excluded from attending school.

            Laramie County School District One is making preliminary plans with the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department to hold special clinics for the varicella vaccine before the deadline. Announcements will be made regarding special clinics.

            If you have any questions about the new law, please contact the Wyoming Immunization Program at 777-7952.

            If you have questions about clinics, contact your healthcare provider or the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department 633-4000.

            If you have questions about forms and other paperwork required by the school, please contact the school nurse at your student’s building.