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822 students lack proper immunization
By Cheryl Scott
Daily News staff writer
Immunizations requirements changed in March, but some parents still haven't taken their children to the doctor to get the shots they need.
Many students in the School District of Beloit will face suspension if they are not immunized by Monday - or by Oct. 20, for first- and ninth-graders, said Kathy Pohl, one of the registered nurses in the district and nurse co-team leader.
As of Monday, 822 students out of approximately 7,000 students in the School District of Beloit still needed immunizations, Pohl said.
The 822 students included 195 in the elementary schools, 211 in the middle schools and 416 at the high school level, Pohl said.
Yet Pohl said the number changes from hour to hour as immunization paperwork is turned in.
Students who do not receive their immunizations before the deadline will be suspended for at least 10 days or up until they get the necessary shots, Pohl said. After 10 days, students may return to school, but their names will be given to the district attorney and their parents could face fines, Pohl said.
The School District of Beloit informed parents about the changes through private mailings, letters, newsletters, the district's Web site and newspaper articles. But Pohl said she isn't surprised by the number of students who still need immunizations because the new requirements affect students in several grades: kindergarten, sixth, ninth and 12th.
“We usually run 99-100 percent compliance, by the time the cycle is complete,” Pohl said.
The district sent out a reminder letter to parents on Monday, which leads Pohl to think the Health Department will be swamped today during the walk-in clinics.
The Rock County Health Department South Office will hold its usual walk-in clinic from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. today at its office, 61 Eclipse Center, Beloit. The South Office added another walk-in clinic from 4:30-6:30 p.m. today, which will be held in the Center Court of the Eclipse Center.
Other immunization clinics offered by the health department include the following:
Fridays - walk-in clinic from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Rock County Health Department North Office, 3328 N. U.S. Highway 51, Janesville
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays - immunizations by appointment from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at either health department office
Call the South Office at 608-364-2010 or the North Office at 608-757-5440 for more information or to make an appointment.
About the requirements
The Wisconsin Student Immunization law changed on March 1, which requires students to have more vaccinations at the start of the 2008-09 school year.
Students entering sixth, ninth and 12th grades will need one dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). Students starting kindergarten, sixth and 12th grades will need two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, according to a fact sheet from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
The requirements will be gradually phased in to all grades. For the 2009-10 school year, the Tdap vaccine will be required for students in grades six, seven, nine, 10 and 12. Students beginning kindergarten, first, sixth, seventh and 12th grades will need to get two doses of the varicella vaccine, according to Pohl and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services “Varicella, Tdap and PCV Requirements” page.
Many students in the School District of Beloit will face suspension if they are not immunized by Monday - or by Oct. 20, for first- and ninth-graders, said Kathy Pohl, one of the registered nurses in the district and nurse co-team leader.
As of Monday, 822 students out of approximately 7,000 students in the School District of Beloit still needed immunizations, Pohl said.
The 822 students included 195 in the elementary schools, 211 in the middle schools and 416 at the high school level, Pohl said.
Yet Pohl said the number changes from hour to hour as immunization paperwork is turned in.
Students who do not receive their immunizations before the deadline will be suspended for at least 10 days or up until they get the necessary shots, Pohl said. After 10 days, students may return to school, but their names will be given to the district attorney and their parents could face fines, Pohl said.
The School District of Beloit informed parents about the changes through private mailings, letters, newsletters, the district's Web site and newspaper articles. But Pohl said she isn't surprised by the number of students who still need immunizations because the new requirements affect students in several grades: kindergarten, sixth, ninth and 12th.
“We usually run 99-100 percent compliance, by the time the cycle is complete,” Pohl said.
The district sent out a reminder letter to parents on Monday, which leads Pohl to think the Health Department will be swamped today during the walk-in clinics.
The Rock County Health Department South Office will hold its usual walk-in clinic from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. today at its office, 61 Eclipse Center, Beloit. The South Office added another walk-in clinic from 4:30-6:30 p.m. today, which will be held in the Center Court of the Eclipse Center.
Other immunization clinics offered by the health department include the following:
Fridays - walk-in clinic from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Rock County Health Department North Office, 3328 N. U.S. Highway 51, Janesville
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays - immunizations by appointment from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at either health department office
Call the South Office at 608-364-2010 or the North Office at 608-757-5440 for more information or to make an appointment.
About the requirements
The Wisconsin Student Immunization law changed on March 1, which requires students to have more vaccinations at the start of the 2008-09 school year.
Students entering sixth, ninth and 12th grades will need one dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). Students starting kindergarten, sixth and 12th grades will need two doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, according to a fact sheet from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
The requirements will be gradually phased in to all grades. For the 2009-10 school year, the Tdap vaccine will be required for students in grades six, seven, nine, 10 and 12. Students beginning kindergarten, first, sixth, seventh and 12th grades will need to get two doses of the varicella vaccine, according to Pohl and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services “Varicella, Tdap and PCV Requirements” page.
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| Beloit district loses 115 students | Walk to school |
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