IMMUNIZATION REMINDER
GRADE SIX IMMUNIZATION UPDATE
August 18, 2020
Dear Sixth Grade Parents and Guardians;
The following update was sent out by the New Jersey Department of Health on August 12, 2020.
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has received inquiries regarding the status of the immunization of pupils in school regulations (N.J.A.C. 8:57-4). The value of immunizations is even more evident during this pandemic: therefore, NJDOH will not waive the vaccine requirements nor will there be any extensions for the upcoming school year. Students will be expected to comply with all vaccine requirements prior to attending virtually or in-person at a New Jersey child care/preschool and school. New Jersey still allows for medical and religious exemptions when applicable.
The potential for the spread of infectious diseases is increased whenever individuals are brought into group settings. New Jersey has minimum vaccine requirements for school attendance. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recommended immunization is encouraged to provide optimal protection from vaccine-preventable diseases. Ensuring that vaccines are up-to-date can help protect schools and communities from vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information please visit the New Jersey Immunization Requirements Frequently Asked Questions document available on the website https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/imm_requirements/ and directly at https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/imm_requirements/vaccine_qa.pdf. This document contains new information regarding Dtap/Tdap vaccinations and the immunization requirements at institutions of higher education.
Therefore, students entering the sixth grade that have not submitted proof of the required immunizations will not be permitted to enter school on the first day of school. This will also result in your child being placed into the full remote learning platform for the first trimester of school.