Two suburban Maryland counties are taking opposite approaches on dealing with children who fail to get proper vaccinations before opening day of classes.
In Prince George’s County, students won’t be allowed to enroll for classes until providing proof of all necessary immunizations. But in Montgomery County, a note from parents that the shots have been scheduled will buy the student 20 days to comply.
Those conflicting approaches don’t concern health care professionals.
“I think it actually makes sense,” said Dr. John Bradley, who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital in San Diego. “It’s not like chickenpox is rampant and epidemic. They could be differing based on the judgment of public health officials on availability of vaccine and need.”
Bradley said there is “virtually no risk” of hepatitis B for school-age children and the reason children are vaccinated is “so when they become adolescents and engage in high-risk behaviors they will be protected.”
New state policy requires all students in kindergarten through grade 10 to show proof of hepatitis B and chickenpox vaccines; prior to January 2007, only students through fourth grade needed proof of immunization.
When policy changes took effect in January, at one point more than 5,000 Prince George’s students were barred from school for failing to meet the new criteria. Prince George’s school officials told The Examiner on Tuesday they estimate fewer than 1,000 students lack the vaccinations at this time.
Prince George’s County schools spokeswoman Tanzi West said those without immunizations would not be able to start school on Monday, but she did not elaborate on how the school would bar their attendance.
Montgomery County school health officials said they have not had similar compliance issues in their county public schools. Classes there start Aug. 27.
“We did a very, very intense intervention last year,” said Judy Covich, director of school health services for Montgomery County’s health and human services department. “It was a multifaceted project so by the time we got to January, we were able to have immunized all the kids who needed compliance.”
At a glance
» Details on new state vaccine policy available at www.edcp.org/pdf/Min_Vacc_Req%2007_08.pdf
