School Immunization Law
Fact Sheet for Parents

Parents:
The Wisconsin Student Immunization law was recently changed. Two different vaccine requirements were added which may affect your child’s compliance with the law. The change will go into effect this fall with the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. Parents are required to have their children vaccinated or claim a waiver by indicating their choice on the attached Student Immunization Record and returning it to their child’s school. The following fact sheet should help to answer your questions about the new requirements:
New Tdap and Varicella Immunization Requirements for Students

1. Why are these requirements being made?

From 1986 through 2004, Wisconsin had the 5th highest rate of pertussis (whooping cough) in the nation with almost 5,000 cases being reported in 2004 alone. Pertussis outbreaks occur because protection declines 5-10 years after completion of childhood DTP/DTaP vaccinations. Tdap is a new vaccine that is recommended for adolescents and is anticipated to help prevent pertussis from occurring including pertussis outbreaks in schools. Pertussis can place a significant burden on children and parents as a person with pertussis must be isolated for a minimum of 5 days of antibiotic treatment.
Two doses of varicella vaccine have been shown to be more effective than one dose in preventing “breakthrough disease” cases of chickenpox in children of all age groups.
Recommendations for both Tdap and varicella vaccines are made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

2. What are the new requirements, what grades are affected and when will they begin?

The Wisconsin Student Immunization Law will require:
• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) for students entering 6th , 9th and 12th grades, and
• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for students entering Kindergarten, 6th and 12th grades beginning in the 2008-09 school year (this coming fall).

3. What do parents need to do?

Have your child vaccinated with Tdap and/or varicella vaccine if he or she has not already received the vaccine(s). Record the date(s) of the immunization in the bold outlined box(s) on the enclosed Student Immunization Record, sign it and return it to
your child’s school. To claim a waiver for health, religious or personal conviction reasons follow the instructions on the Student Immunization Record and return the signed form to your child’s school.
Also, be sure to add the Tdap and varicella vaccine dates to the permanent immunization record you keep for your child at home. In the future, s/he may need to give these dates to other schools, colleges or employers.

4. Are there exceptions to the Tdap and varicella vaccine requirements?

Yes, The first is with Tdap vaccine. If your child will be entering 6th, 9th or 12th grade and already received a tetanus-containing vaccine (eg. Td vaccine) within the last 5 years, your child is compliant and Tdap vaccine is not required. Check the box marked “Td”, enter the date it was received on the Student Immunization Record and return it to school. The second exception is for varicella vaccine. If your child had chickenpox disease, even after the 1st dose of varicella vaccine, further doses of the vaccine are not required. Check the “Yes” box to the chickenpox disease question on the Student Immunization Record and return it to school.

5. If my child already had pertussis disease, should he or she still get the Tdap vaccine?

Children who have had pertussis disease should receive Tdap according to the routine recommendations because the length of protection provided by disease is unknown and because the diagnosis can be difficult to confirm. This is not an exception to the Tdap requirement.

6. Where can I get Tdap and/or varicella vaccine for my child?

These vaccines are available from your child’s doctor or local health department. Please have your child immunized well in advance of school opening to avoid the late summer rush at doctor’s offices and immunization clinics

Here is a link to the document by the state. and here is a link to the Wisconsin Health Department for more information.

Parents get notices of Lake County chickenpox cases

February 16, 2008

THE VILLAGES

Five fourth-graders at The Villages of Lady Lake Elementary School have come down with chickenpox, prompting county health administrators to send a cautionary letter to parents and order a thorough cleaning of the school.

In the letter, the Lake County Health Department urged parents to have their children vaccinated against chickenpox if they have not already done so.

Although chickenpox usually manifests itself with a fever and an itchy rash, in rare cases, it can lead to serious illness and death.

The five infected children had received at least one dose of chickenpox vaccine.

For the full story 

Feb 11, 2008

Sedgwick County health officials say there has been an outbreak of Chickenpox (Varicella) in two schools in the county. KAKE News has learned that one of those schools is Tanglewood elementary in Derby.

Twenty nine cases have been reported so far in 2008. That’s compared to 23 cases in all of 2006 and 55 cases in all of 2007.
The most common symptoms of chickenpox are fever and an itchy rash which covers the body. The rash usually is most concentrated on the face, scalp, and trunk. Occasionally more serious complications occur including swelling of the brain or pneumonia.

Varicella is highly contagious and spread by coughing and sneezing. Contact with the skin lesions can also spread the disease.

Due to the high level of contagiousness, as well as the potential for serious complications, it is important to seek medical attention from your primary care physician if you or your child is exhibiting symptoms of
Chickenpox. Although children typically acquire the disease, adolescents and adults are at higher risk for a more severe case.

For the full story at wibw.com

Six Mattanawcook Academy, Mattanawcook Junior High and Ella P. Burr Elementary School students have been diagnosed with the mild but very contagious disease, Superintendent Michael Marcinkus said.

Officials sent a letter to parents seeking student vaccination records or medical histories. Students who can’t show they have been vaccinated or had the chickenpox might be barred from school for 16 days, as required by state law. School officials are considering a temporary inoculation program, but if that happens, it won’t occur until next week, the superintendent said.

“The health and safety of all students and employees is our main concern,” Marcinkus said Thursday.

The outbreak was discovered Wednesday among three siblings — two at Burr, one at Mattanawcook Junior High. One case was discovered at school, while the others were identified later, Marcinkus said.

For more of this story click here