Immunization of Students: JLCB

According to Colorado Statute 6 CCR 1009-2, no student shall be permitted to register, attend or continue to attend any school in the state of Colorado without meeting the legal requirements for immunizations against disease. This includes a valid immunization record or signed exemption for medical, religious, or personal reasons as provided by law. House Bill 14-1288 requires schools and childcare facilities to calculate and make available immunization and exemption rates for enrolled students. Those records are to be available upon request. No application and/or registration for admission shall be complete without a Certificate of Immunization or a completed exemption form. Refer to process addendum for acceptable immunization records and the exemption process.

1. Requirements for a Certificate of Immunization may be waived for indigent/homeless students. Please refer to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act concerning the requirement of an Immunization record for students defined as homeless.

2. When a student does not have an immunization record or the record is incomplete:

• a. If records cannot be obtained or the student was never immunized, student cannot attend and/or register for school until the first set of immunizations is received and a plan for the remaining immunizations is signed by a health care provider.
• b. If the student is immunized but the record is elsewhere, student cannot register and/or attend until the record is received.
• c. When the record is incomplete, the parent/guardian will be notified. Within 14 days of notification, the student must receive the required immunizations, have proof of appointment to receive immunizations, submit an exemption as outlined by state guidelines or be suspended.
• d. A copy of the Immunization of Students Policy and a copy of the Student Suspension/Expulsion Procedures shall be available on the SD27J website at http://www.sd27j.org/Domain/42 or from the school as a paper copy.

3. A student who fails to comply shall be suspended by the principal for up to five days.

4. If no Certificate of immunization is received during the period of suspension, the superintendent shall institute proceedings for expulsion.

5. Any suspension or expulsion under this policy shall terminate automatically upon compliance with this immunization policy.

6. Record of any such suspension or expulsion shall be contained in the student's health file, with appropriate explanation.

7. Under direction of the Tri-County Health Department, if at any time there is danger of an epidemic from a communicable disease for which immunization is required, students on an exemption status will be required to be immunized or will be excluded from school until the danger is over.

Process for Immunization Recording

Registrar:

• When application for enrollment is presented, immunization record must be presented. If no record is available, the registration process cannot continue.
• When application for enrollment is presented and immunization record is available, registrar can continue process.
• If a parent indicates that the student is exempt, the registration process can continue unless the exemption cannot be verified.
• Give immunization record to health assistant.

Health Assistant:

Beginning of School Year:

• Immunizations records need to be entered during the first week of school.
• Health assistants will be required to manage their time to get information entered.

During School Year:

• Immunization records will be entered as students enroll.
• When immunization records are noncompliant or incomplete, the health assistant will fill out the
• Notice of Exclusion letter with date of exclusion at that time. This is the only required document to be sent out to families.
• For incomplete records, see Flowchart of School Immunization Law.

Record keeping:

• Health assistants will keep copies of Notice of Exclusion letters sent out.
• Documentation in Infinite Campus contact log.

Follow Up:

• Health assistants will be required to keep track of exclusion notices and their effective dates. Notify the principal and nurse consultant of impending exclusions.

Principal:

The principal, in collaboration with the school nurse consultant and health assistant, will have a plan for suspension of students.

Process for Exemptions (Personal, Religious, Medical)

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/vaccine-exemptions

A medical exemption must be signed by an advanced practice nurse or physician licensed to practice medicine in any state or territory of the United States indicating that the physical condition of the student is such that immunizations would endanger his/her life or health or is medically contraindicated due to other medical conditions. This form is to be submitted once, and must be maintained on file at each new school the student attends.

A religious exemption must be completed by the parent(s) or the emancipated student indicating that the parent(s) or emancipated student is an adherent to a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations. The exemption is to be completed according to state law either on the CDPHE website above or by requesting such form in the mail and following the instructions therein. Exemption forms will no longer be maintained by individual schools.

• Beginning July 1, 2016, prior to kindergarten entry, a nonmedical exemption form must be submitted at each interval at which immunizations are due. 
• From kindergarten through 12th grade, a nonmedical exemption form must be submitted once per school year through the state website.

A personal belief exemption must be completed by the parent(s) or emancipated student indicating that the parent(s) or emancipated student has a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations. The exemption is to be completed according to state law either on the CDPHE website above or by requesting such form in the mail and following the instructions therein. Exemption forms will no longer be maintained by individual schools.

• Beginning July 1, 2016, prior to kindergarten entry, a nonmedical exemption form must be submitted at each interval at which immunizations are due.
• From kindergarten through twelfth grade, a nonmedical exemption form must be submitted once per school year through the state website.