RENO COUNTY, Kan. — Are the student vaccinations for your kids up to date? You still have time to get vaccinations and physicals done before the start of the 23-24 school year.
To better serve families, the Reno County Health Department is holding extended hours for vaccination clinics on Saturday, Aug. 5th and Monday August 14th.
For more information on hours and specific vaccinations offered, call the Reno County Health Department at (620) 694-2900.
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Immunization requirements and recommendations for the 2023-2024 school year are based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
The current recommended and minimum interval immunization schedules may be found on the CDC webpage. The best disease prevention is achieved by adhering to the recommended schedule.
However, if a child falls behind, the catchup schedule is implemented. To avoid missed opportunities, immunization providers may use a 4-day grace period, in most instances, per age and interval between doses. In such cases, these doses may be counted as valid.
K.S.A. 72 - 6261 - Kansas Statutes Related to School Immunizations Requirements and K.A.R. 28-1-20, published July,18, 2019 in the Kansas Register, defines the immunizations required for school and early childhood program attendance.
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP/Tdap): Five doses required. Doses should be given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years (prior to kindergarten entry). The 4th dose may be given as early as 12 months of age, if at least 6 months have elapsed since dose 3. The 5th dose is not necessary if the 4th dose was administered at age 4 years or older. A dose of Tdap is required at entry to 7th grade (11-12 years).
• Hepatitis A (Hep A): Two doses required. Doses should be given at 12 months with a minimum interval of 6 months between the 1st and 2nd dose.
• Hepatitis B (Hep B): Three doses required. Doses should be given at birth, 1-2 months, and 6-18 months. Minimum age for the final dose is 24 weeks.
• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR): Two doses required. Doses should be given at 12-15 months and 4-6 years (prior to kindergarten entry). Minimum age is 12 months and interval between doses may be as short as 28 days.
• Meningococcal-Serogroup A,C,W,Y (MenACWY): Two doses required. Doses should be given at entry to 7th grade (11-12 years) and 11th grade (16-18 years). For children 16-18 years, with no previous MenACWY, only one dose is required.
• Poliomyelitis (IPV/tOPV): Four doses required. Doses should be given at 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years (prior to kindergarten entry). Three doses are acceptable if 3rd dose was given after 4 years of age and at least 6 months have elapsed since dose 2.
• Varicella (Chickenpox): Two doses are required. Doses should be given at 12-15 months and 4-6 years (prior to kindergarten entry). The 2nd dose may be administered as early as 3 months after the 1st dose, however, a dose administered after a 4-week interval is considered valid. No doses are required when student has history of varicella disease documented by a licensed physician.
Legal alternatives to school vaccination requirements are found in K.S.A. 72-6262.
K.S.A. 72-6262. Health tests and inoculations; certification of completion required, alternatives; duties of school boards.
(a) In each school year, every pupil enrolling or enrolled in any school for the first time in this state, and each child enrolled for the first time in a preschool or day care program operated by a school, and such other pupils as may be designated by the secretary, prior to admission to and attendance at school, shall present to the appropriate school board certification from a physician or local health department that the pupil has received such tests and inoculations as are deemed necessary by the secretary by such means as are approved by the secretary. Pupils who have not completed the required inoculations may enroll or remain enrolled while completing the required inoculations if a physician or local health department certifies that the pupil has received the most recent appropriate inoculations in all required series. Failure to timely complete all required series shall be deemed non-compliance.
(b) As an alternative to the certification required under subsection (a), a pupil shall present:
(1) An annual written statement signed by a licensed physician stating the physical condition of the child to be such that the tests or inoculations would seriously endanger the life or health of the child, or
(2) A written statement signed by one parent or guardian that the child is an adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to such tests or inoculations
(c) On or before May 15th of each school year, the school board of every school affected by this act shall notify the parents or guardians of all known pupils who are enrolled or who will be enrolling in the school of the provisions of this act and of any policy regarding the implementation of the provisions of this act adopted by the school board.
(d) If a pupil transfers from one school to another, the school from which the pupil transfers shall forward with the pupil’s transcript the certification or statement showing evidence of compliance with the requirements of this act to the school to which the pupil transfers.
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