Brief Explanation:

How the Requirement Will Work:

• Beginning July 1, 2001, all students entering Kindergarten and those in other grades who are entering or transferring to a California school for the first time will be required to comply with the varicella requirement.

• Required documentation will be an immunization record showing that the varicella vaccine has been received by the student or documentation on the immunization record that the student has had the disease. A parent report without documentation is not acceptable. Site nurses must be included in the registration process at every site to document varicella disease or proof of immunization.

• The varicella requirement is for one dose of varicella vaccine for children 18 months and older. Two doses are required for students 13 years and older who are entering a California school for the first time, have no history of disease and are unimmunized.

• As with other provisions of the California School Immunization Law, schools will be responsible for recording dates of varicella dose(s) on the student’s blue California School Immunization Record card and for completing periodic reports.

• Personal beliefs and medical exemptions are allowed, including laboratory confirmation of previous varicella infection or vaccine.

A flyer from the California Department of Health Services explaining how the new chickenpox requirement will work is attached. The chickenpox vaccine is difficult to store, so nurses will be able to offer this vaccine only if the site has adequate storage facilities. We will have the vaccine available and will work with individual nurses to meet the needs of all sites. Staff may also refer parents to the San Diego County Department of Public Health immunization clinics or their private physicians for immunizations. No child will be turned away for lack of funds to pay for needed immunizations at the public health clinics or our schools.