Maine School Administrative District #31

IMMUNIZATION OF STUDENTS

All students who enroll in Maine School Administrative District #31 schools are required by Maine law to present a certificate of immunization or evidence of immunization or immunity against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chicken pox).

Effective with the 2018-2019 school year, Maine’s immunization requirements also apply to meningococcal disease:

1. One dose of meningococcal vaccine MCV4 is required for all students entering 7^th grade.

2. Two doses of meningococcal vaccine MCV4 are required for students entering 12^th grade, with a minimum interval of eight weeks between dose one and dose two. If the first dose of meningococcal vaccine was administered on or after the student’s 16^th birthday, a second dose is not required.

Non-immunized students shall not be permitted to attend school unless one of the following conditions are met:

1. The parents/guardians provide to the school written assurance that the child will be immunized within 90 days of enrolling in school or his/her first attendance in classes, whichever date is earlier. This option is available only once to each student during their school career; or

2. The parents/guardians provide a physician’s written statement each year that immunization against one or more diseases may be medically inadvisable (as defined by law/regulation); or

3. The parents/guardians state in writing each year that immunization is contrary to their sincere religious or philosophical beliefs.

The Superintendent shall exclude from school any non-immunized student when there is a clear danger to the health of others as provided by law.

The Superintendent/designee is directed to develop such administrative procedures as are necessary to carry out this policy and comply with statutory requirements.

Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA §§ 6352-6359

Me. Dept. of Educ. Rule Ch. 126 (May 10, 2018)

Cross Reference: JLCC – Communicable/Infectious Diseases

JRA – Student Educational Records

First Reading: 09/19/2018

Second Reading: 10/17/2018