In light of the Virginia Department of Educations memo urging Virginia schools to enroll some students before their vaccinations have been completed, Phil Kavits, Director of Communication Services for Prince William County Schools, shared with Bristow Beat the answer to commonly asked questions about school immunizations.
New Q. and A. Concerns About New Arrivals From Other Countries
1. What is new about the immunization requirements that will apply to any new immigrants entering Prince William County Schools?
Nothing has changed in our policies or our commitment to protecting students from disease. As they always have, children newly arriving from other countries will need to meet the same immunization standards required of all other PWCS students, either immediately, or by following a catch-up schedule specified by the Centers for Disease Control, and required by state and federal law.
2. Do students new to Prince William County have to meet school entrance immunization requirements to register?
All students entering Prince William County Public Schools are required to be immunized against specific diseases, according to state and federal guidelines. Proof of required immunization must be provided before the student may attend classes.
3. Are there any exceptions?
Given their challenging circumstances, certain children in foster care or meeting the specific criteria to be considered “homeless,” may be given a short grace period to provide proof of immunization or secure the required vaccines. This has long been used to assist a small number of homeless children currently living in Prince William County. It may also apply to a small fraction of new arrivals. In all cases, school health officials work with the Prince William Health District and other organizations to ensure that children promptly receive the immunizations needed. Additionally, a small number of students avoid specific vaccines for religious or health reasons.
4. Students who are not fully immunized before starting school may need a lot of vaccines, how long will they have to get them?
There are state and federal guidelines for those students who have not been immunized on a traditional schedule. They are designed to ensure the health of the school community and to aid new students to quickly receive all required vaccinations. Guidelines apply to all students.
5. How can I be sure that these guidelines are followed in Prince William County Public Schools?
PWCS staff members are committed to student health and safety. School staff is trained throughout the school year to follow the regulations and procedures set forth by the Prince William County School Board when enrolling new students.
6. Should I worry about my child’s health if I am unsure of the immigration status of someone in the classroom?
There is no reason to worry. If your child is adequately immunized, there is generally no increased risk involved in interaction with a student who has not yet been fully immunized. While no vaccine is 100% effective, the procedures in place in Prince William County Public Schools do provide significant protection for all our students.
School health staff will notify parents of chronically ill students in the event that specific issues arise that need to be addressed.
7. Shouldn’t I be concerned that a student arriving from another country could expose my child to diseases not typically found here?
In an age of frequent international business and tourism, health authorities are constantly on the alert for outbreaks of illness imported from other parts of the world. This monitoring helps keep us safe at all times. Those children who are becoming involved with the federal government at a U.S border crossings are getting immunized and receiving a physical prior to being sent into the United States. They receive proof of the immunizations so they may meet initial school entrance health requirements. In general, these children appear to be in good health.
8. Why should I get my child immunized in order to enroll in school, while others might get what looks like special treatment?
The best reason to get your child immunized on schedule is to protect him or her from avoidable diseases. PWCS follows state and federal laws to ensure that all our students get that important protection. A fraction of current and newly enrolling students sometimes need some extra time (as required by those laws) to meet the requirement. Along with a short grace period, they receive the time and assistance needed to get them fully immunized, either immediately, or by following a catch-up schedule specified by the Commonwealth and the Centers for Disease Control and designed to afford maximum protection.
9. Will schools keep track of the immunization status of undocumented students who enroll?
Schools carefully monitor the PWCS immunization status of all students, both to comply with state and federal laws and to assure that students have appropriate protection. However, PWCS is prohibited by law from inquiring about the legal/documentation status of any student.
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