July 24, 2014 New Immunization Requirements
KEEPING YOU INFORMED…
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. We therefore take this opportunity to inform you about current legal requirements for student immunizations and recent changes issued by the New York State Department of Health (“DOH”). These new requirements went into effect on July 1, 2014 and include revisions to the number of vaccine doses required and the mandatory minimum intervals between those doses.
The new DOH requirements apply to public, private and parochial child-caring centers, day-care agencies, nursery schools, kindergartens and elementary, intermediate and secondary classes and school buildings. Attached is a copy of a chart issued by the DOH Bureau of Immunization summarizing the new dosing requirements for the 2014-2015 school year. The chart is also available at http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2370.pdf.
The New York State Department of Education recently issued a 2014 “Immunization Guidelines for Schools” that provides guidance with respect to the implementation of an effective school immunization program consistent with State law and regulation. The guidelines include the new changes issued by the DOH. A copy of the guidelines is attached and is also available at www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/documents/IMMUNIZATIONGUIDELINESFOR SCHOOLS.pdf. We recommend that you review the guidelines to ensure that your immunization program is being properly implemented.
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the student immunization requirements.
THIS MEMORANDUM IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. THOSE WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.
© Lamb & Barnosky, LLP 2014