Welcome to School Health

Children Entering Kindergarten

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTaP, or DT if appropriate)
• Hepatitis B (HBV)
• Poliomyelitis (IPV or OPV): final dose on or after the 4th birthday now required
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (2 doses of each, usually given together as MMR)
• Varicella (2 doses or history of disease): previously only one dose was required
• Hepatitis A (2 doses): effective July 1, 2011

Children with medical or religious exemption to requirements

• Medical: Healthcare provider must indicate which specific vaccines are medically exempted (because of risk of harm) on the new form. Other vaccines remain required.
• Religious: Requires only a signed statement by the parent/guardian that vaccination conflicts with their religious tenets or practices. If documentation of a health examination is required, it must be noted by the health care provider on the immunization certificate. In that case, the provider may explain the absence of immunization information by checking that the parent has obtained a religious exemption.

School Health Documents

Each year students are screened for specific health problems depending on their grade. Parents/Guardians who do not want their children screened for any health concerns have the right to decline their screenings for their children.

• Vision and Hearing: All students in grades K, 2, 4, 6 and 8 have their vision and hearing checked. If a problem is found, you will be notified by your school nurse. If you have a concern about your child’s vision or hearing, please notify your school nurse.
• Other health screenings may be offered, and prior notification will be sent home with your student.

Permission Slips

We have a medical form called ISMO (individualized student medical order) which will need to be filled out and signed by you and your student’s healthcare provider if your student is going to require medications or treatments which could be, as an example diabetes care, breathing treatments, feeding tube treatments.

If we do not have the ISMO then the clinical staff are not allowed to give that students medication until an ISMO is brought in filled out by you and your student’s health care provider.

Medications should be administered by school nurses or other non-medical school personnel who volunteer to do so. Any student who is required to take medication during the regular school day must comply with the following regulations:

School Health needs to know about students with health problems so we can help to provide a healthy and safe environment. Some of the information May be shared with your child’s teacher or office staff on a need-to-know basis. All other health information regarding your student is kept secure in the nursing clinic. However, other information is kept by the School Nurse in a secured area.

We can develop an Individual Health Plan (IHP) with you and your child’s healthcare provider.

This is a simple form that states what you would like us to do for your child.

• What does your child’s teacher need to know?
• When do you want us to notify you, when would you want us to call 911?
• What emergency medications do you want us to be able to administer?
• These are questions best answered before your child is ill. It allows us to act quickly if needed.

Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease that spreads around the United States every year, usually between October and May.

Flu is caused by influenza viruses, and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact.

Anyone can get flu. Flu strikes suddenly and can last several days. Symptoms vary by age, but can include: fever/chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache, runny or stuffy nose.

Flu can also lead to pneumonia and blood infections, and cause diarrhea and seizures in children. If you have a medical condition, such as heart or lung disease, flu can make it worse.

Flu is more dangerous for some people. Infants and young children, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health
conditions or a weakened immune system are at greatest risk.

Each year thousands of people in the United States die from flu, and many more are hospitalized.

For information on where to get flu vaccine, please contact your healthcare provider or your local retail pharmacy.

TCA49-6-5005 (July 2017) requires all School districts in Tennessee to annually provide parents and guardians with information about influenza disease at the beginning of every school year.

Meningococcal disease, which includes meningococcal meningitis, is a serious bacterial infection that strikes between 800 and 1200 Americans each year. Although rare, meningococcal disease can cause meningitis, swelling of the tissues around the brain or spinal cord; bacteremia, a severe blood infection; or pneumonia. Vaccination has been available for years and is a safe and effective way to help protect against this potentially devastating disease.

TCA49-6-5005 (July 2017) requires all School districts in Tennessee to annually provide parents and guardians with information about influenza disease at the beginning of every school year.