County now offering required immunizations to South Shore students

Approximately 90-94.9 percent of students registered for school in South Lake Tahoe are fully vaccinated, which means its time for immunizations before school starts in August for the other 5 to 10 percent.

Because of the new law, California Senate Bill 277 which was passed last year, personal belief exemptions to immunizations, including religious belief exemptions, are no longer accepted when children enter child care or schools in California. Personal belief exemptions on file for a child already attending child care or school will remain valid until the child reaches the next immunization checkpoint at kindergarten (including transitional kindergarten) or 7th grade. Most families will not be affected by SB 277 because their children have received all required vaccinations.

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Nursing is reminding parents to plan now for the coming school year by ensuring their child is up-to-date on required immunizations. Schools and child care facilities must verify each child's immunization record to ensure all required shots are completed before entry to kindergarten and 7th grade, and students will not be allowed to start until they are completed.

For those families without a health care provider, Public Health is now offering low-cost back-to-school immunizations. Public Health can provide all childhood vaccinations required for school entry, as well as other vaccinations recommended to keep children healthy.

Parents who wish to have their child vaccinated through a scheduled appointment at Public Health may call the Public Health Clinic at (530) 621-6100 in Placerville or (530) 573-3155 in South Lake Tahoe. Vaccinations are charged at cost for those who have private insurance. Children on Medi-Cal, or who are uninsured, are eligible for Public Health’s low-cost immunization services; a $10 administration fee is charged per shot, though no child will be refused a vaccination due to inability to pay.

Students must receive all vaccines according to age and grade requirements. For more information about immunizations required for child care and grades K – 12, please see http://www/shotsforschool.org/.

Beginning this school year:

- Documentation of required immunizations must be submitted to the school before the student is allowed to attend class.
- Parents/guardians of Medically Exempt students must submit a Medical Exemption letter from a licensed physician (M.D. or D.O.) and provide documentation of immunizations that have been received.