Character • Curriculum • Community Dear Parents,
Washington is passing a new law about vaccinations and vaccinating students. There are some important changes you should know about. The best place for the most information is the Department of Health, but we want to be sure you are alerted to these changes.
Each student is required to have a completed vaccination form on file before starting school. If you have claimed an exemption in the past for your child receiving immunization based on your personal or philosophical reasons, that exemption will no longer be accepted for the MMR immunization. That exemption can still be used for other types of immunization, like DTaP. The medical or religious exemptions for MMR immunization are still available.
To be clear, if your child has not received MMR immunization because of personal/philosophical objections to that immunization, your child will not be able to attend school. You need to provide our school with an updated vaccination form reflecting the MMR immunization or proof of a medical or religious exemption, before your child can come to school in the fall.
The second important change is that there are a few other ways that you can show that your child has been immunized. You can have your child take a blood test that shows the child is immune or have a health care provider certify that the child has already had the disease for which the immunization is required. Again, it is best for you to check with the Department of Health if you have questions about this.
Sometimes when a new law is passed, there are additional regulations and changes in the way the new law works. We will try to keep you informed of any clarifications or changes.
Sincerely,
Kirk Wheeler, Ed.D. Head of School |