- Norfolk Public Schools
- Health Home
HEALTH DOCS
HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
-
Students must be compliant with the Massachusetts school immunization law in order to attend school. If your child has already received the required immunizations or has an exemption on file with the student’s school, please provide their immunization records/exemptions to the school office.
REQUIREMENTS BY GRADE LEVEL
-
Preschool
Attendees < 2 years should be immunized for their age according to the ACIP Recommended Immunization Schedule. Requirements listed in the table below apply to all attendees ≥2 years. These requirements also apply to children in preschool classes called K0 or K1.
Hib
1-4 doses; the number of doses is determined by vaccine product and age the series begins
DTaP
4 doses
Polio
3 doses
Hepatitis B
3 doses; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
MMR
1 dose; must be given on or after the 1st birthday; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
Varicella
1 dose; must be given on or after the 1st birthday; a reliable history of chickenpox* or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
-
Grades K-6
In ungraded classrooms, Kindergarten requirements apply to all students ≥5 years.
DTaP
5 doses; 4 doses are acceptable if the fourth dose is given on or after the 4th birthday. DT is only acceptable with a letter stating a medical contraindication to DTaP
Polio
4 doses; fourth dose must be given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose, or a fifth dose is required. 3 doses are acceptable if the third dose is given on or after the 4th birthday and ≥6 months after the previous dose
Hepatitis B
3 doses; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
MMR
2 doses; first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and second dose must be given ≥28 days after first dose; laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
Varicella
2 doses; first dose must be given on or after the 1st birthday and second dose must be given ≥28 days after first dose; a reliable history of chickenpox* or laboratory evidence of immunity acceptable
When Should My Child Stay Home From School?
-
General Guidelines
Good attendance at school is important in order for a child to do well. However, there will be times when your child is really too ill to attend. Either they are contagious to the other students or they feel so poorly that they would gain nothing from being at school. The following symptoms can help you determine whether your child should stay home.
-
Runny Nose / Cold Symptoms
A bad cough or cold symptoms can indicate a severe cold, bronchitis, flu or even pneumonia. If your child is not acting right or has difficulty breathing check with your pediatrician right away. A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child opportunity to rest and recover.
-
Fever
Children who have a temperature of 100 degrees or more do not belong in school. Any fever within the past 24 hours indicates the need to stay home. Fever is an important symptom; when it occurs along with a sore throat, an earache, nausea, listleness, or a rash, your child may be carrying something contagious. Most pediatricians advise parents to keep children home during the course of a fever and for an additional 24 hours after the fever has passed (without giving fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin).
-
Awaiting results of a strep throat culture
Wait until the 24 - hour culture results are in before returning your student to school. If it is negative and your child is fever free, you can bring your child back to school.
-
Diarrhea & Vomiting
If your child has repeated episodes of diarrhea and vomiting, accompanied by fever, a rash or general weakness, consult a doctor and keep your child out of school until the illness passes.
-
Head Lice
Students determined to have head lice infestation or the presence of nits are not permitted in the school until there are no live lice detected.
-
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the child may not return to school until after 24 hours the first dose of prescribed medication is administered.
