Multnomah County School Exclusion date for immunizations is Feb 20
From Public Affairs Office:
This week, approximately 4,200 Multnomah County parents will receive letters stating that their children must be immunized or will not be admitted to school on the school exclusion date of February 20, 2008. This year’s letters are less than one-half the quantity sent in 2005, when 10,452 letters were mailed. In 2006 the number of notices was 7,320. The number of letters sent is the lowest amount in several years as children and students are getting caught up on requirements that were introduced in the year 2000.
This is the final notice informing parents of children in public schools, pre-schools, Head Start programs, private schools, and other children’s facilities. Approximately 111,000 children in Multnomah County must meet the school exclusion requirements each year and approximately 759 (less than 1.5%) were excluded from school last year until they received needed vaccines.
Multnomah County Health Department is sponsoring a series of immunization clinics for children who are uninsured or underinsured throughout February to bring them up to date on their vaccinations and enable them to stay in school. Parents are asked to bring letters they have received from the school or county health department and their children’s immunization records to the clinics. Families with health insurance are encouraged to see their regular medical provider.
“More than ever, we depend on immunizations to ensure the health of our community. In addition to protecting the population from vaccine-preventable diseases, immunizations ensure children will not miss school days and make the classroom safe for all by preventing communicable diseases,” states Lillian Shirley, Director of Multnomah County Health Department.
For more information contact:
• Multnomah County Health Department Information and Referral at
503-988-3816 for information on upcoming immunization clinics
• Multnomah Education Service District at 503-257-1760 for information on student vaccination records
• Visit the Oregon Department of Human Services’ website at http://oregon.gov/DHS/ph/imm/school/index.shtml
• Visit Multnomah County Health Department’s website for a list of immunization clinics at www.mchealth.org/immunizations.html
Posted on February 6, 2008
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