Health Services

 

Immunization Requirements for School Entry

Parents of students in the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District should be aware of California laws (SB 277, SB 276, and SB 714) regarding required vaccinations. Proof of immunization or a valid medical exemption issued through the state registry is required at registration.

PERSONAL BELIEF EXEMPTIONS

Starting January 1, 2016, parents or guardians are no longer allowed to submit a personal or religious beliefs exemption for any currently required vaccine.

• Exemptions for Specific Programs: Students attending a home-based private school or an independent study program without classroom-based instruction are not required to provide proof of immunization for entry.
• Students with IEPs: Students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will continue to receive all necessary services identified in their IEP regardless of vaccination status.

MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS (NEW PROCESS)

Since January 1, 2021, all new medical exemptions for school entry must be issued electronically through the California Immunization Registry – Medical Exemption (CAIR-ME) website.

• How to Obtain: Parents must create an account in CAIR-ME to start an application and receive a request number to give to their child’s physician.
• Qualified Physicians: Only California-licensed Medical Doctors (M.D.) or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) can issue medical exemptions. Physicians cannot issue exemptions if they are on probation or under investigation for immunization-related practices.
• Expiration: Medical exemptions issued in CAIR-ME remain valid only until the child enters the next "grade span" (TK/K–6th grade or 7th–12th grade), the exemption’s specified expiration date, or if the exemption is revoked.
• Pre-2021 Exemptions: Medical exemptions filed before 2021 remain on file but are no longer valid once a student reaches a new grade span (e.g., entering Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten or 7th grade).

CONDITIONAL ENROLLMENT

Students may be admitted conditionally if they have commenced receiving all required vaccines and are not currently due for any doses according to the state’s mandatory intervals.

• Monitoring: The school will review the records of conditionally admitted pupils every 30 days to ensure they remain on schedule for their remaining doses.
• Transfers, Foster, and Homeless Youth: Students transferring from another U.S. school, who are homeless, or in foster care, may be granted up to 30 school days to submit their immunization records before they must be excluded.

REQUIRED DOSAGES FOR ADMISSION

To meet California entry requirements, students must show proof of the following:

 

KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Good health is vital to academic success. A certificate of physical examination is recommended at the time of kindergarten registration.

 

PARENT GUIDELINES REGARDING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Dear Parents and Guardians:

A child’s health status directly affects his/her success at school.  There are three factors to be considered when addressing school attendance:

1. Protection of the individual student who is ill and requires treatment.
2. Comfort of the individual student and how it affects his/her abilities to learn and achieve in school.
3. Protection of the school community from the spread of any communicable disease.

The following guidelines were written as an indicator for a need to send a student home, or for a student to be kept at home.

• Students should be fever free without medication for 24 hours before they return to school.
• Students should be vomiting/diarrhea free for 24 hours before they return to school.
• Students should be kept at home for undiagnosed skin conditions or a rash that may be contagious until they have been cleared up
• Students should be kept home for conjunctivitis or pinkeye until treated.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

A student that has been prescribed by a physician to require medications during regular school hours may be assisted by the district nurse, the health assistant, or other designated school personnel. The school must receive a written statement (Request for Medication to be taken at school form) from the physician and the parent or guardian.This includes over-the-counter medication.

The following procedure must be followed:

1. A request form for each prescribed medication must be completed by the physician, signed by the parent or guardian, and filed with the school administrator/nurse.
2. The container must be clearly labeled with the following information:
   1. Pupil’s full name
   2. Physician’s name
   3. Name of medication
   4. Dosage schedule and dose form
   5. Date of expiration of prescription

Each medication is to be in a separate container with the information clearly labeled as above. The school administrator/ district nurse will assume responsibility for placing medications in a locked cabinet, which shall be used only for the storage of medication.

The parent or guardian will assume full responsibility for the supplying of all medications.

No medication may be brought to school by pupils or on the school bus.

Parents shall deliver the medication or delivered by an authorized adult. Parents shall be encouraged to cooperate with the physician to develop a schedule so that the necessity for taking medications at school will be minimized or eliminated.

Please see the district nurse for resources of  health clinics in the area for immunizations.