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Cynthia Tillett RN Van Alstyne Independent School District 
  
 
Updated: Thu Jan 21 10:05:43 CST 2010 Visits: 39 [ Print ] [ Refresh ] [ Classpages ] |
Footnotes: 1. Receipt of the dose up to (and including) 4 days before the birthday will satisfy the school entry immunization requirement. 2. Five doses of a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis containing vaccine, one of which must have been received on or after the 4th birthday: however, 4 doses meet the requirement if the 4th dose was given on or after the 4th birthday. 3. Three doses, including one dose on or after the 4th birthday 4. Students will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap only if it is has been five years since their previous dose of tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exists. 5. Students will be required to have a booster dose of Tdap if it has been ten years since their previous dose of tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exists. 6. Four doses of polio vaccine-one of which must have been received on or after the 4th birthday, however 3 doses meet the requirements if the 3rd dose was given on or after the 4th birthday. 7. Two doses of MMR vaccine with the 1st dose on or after the 1st birthday. For the 2009-2010 school year, 7th-12th grade students are required to have two doses of measles-containing vaccine, and one dose each of mumps and rubella vaccine. Refer to the phase-in schedule to determine when the 2-dose MMR requirements goes into effect for 7th-12th grade. 8. Two doses of adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax*) are acceptable for individuals 11-15 years of age. Dosage and type of vaccine must be clearly documented. (Two 10 mcg/1.0 ml of Recombivax*) 9. Two doses received on or after the 1st birthday. Refer to the phase-in schedule to determine when the 2-dose Varicella requirements goes into effect for 8th-12th grade. 10. Two doses with the 1st dose recieved on or after the 1st birthday. 11. Serologic confirmation of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, or varicella or serologic evidence of infection is acceptable in lieu of vaccine. 12. Previous illness may be documented with a written statement from a physician, school nurse, or the child's parent or guardian containg wording such as "This is to verify that (name of student) had varicella disease (chickenpox) on or about (date) and does not need varicella vaccine."
Exemptions: The law allows (a) physicians to write a statement stating that the vaccine(s) required is medically contraindicated or poses a significant risk to the health and well-being of the child or any member of the child’s household, and (b) parents/guardians to choose an exemption from immunization requirements for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief. Schools and child-care facilities should maintain an up-to-date list of students with exemptions, so they can be excluded from attending school if an outbreak occurs.
Instructions for the affidavit to be signed by parents/guardians choosing the exemption for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief can be found at www.ImmunizeTexas.com.
For children needing medical exemptions, a written statement by the physician should be submitted to the school or child-care facility.
Provisional Enrollment: All immunizations should be completed by the first date of attendance. The law requires that students be fully vaccinated against the specified diseases. A student may be enrolled provisionally if the student has an immunization record that indicates the student has received at least one dose of each specified age-appropriate vaccine required by this rule. To remain enrolled, the student must complete the required subsequent doses in each vaccine series on schedule and as rapidly as is medically feasible and provide acceptable evidence of vaccination to the school. A school nurse or school administrator shall review the immunization status of a provisionally enrolled student every 30 days to ensure continued compliance in completing the required doses of vaccination. If, at the end of the 30- day period, a student has not received a subsequent dose of vaccine, the student is not in compliance and the school shall exclude the student from school attendance until the required dose is administered.
Documentation: Since many types of personal immunization records are in use, any document will be acceptable provided a physician or public health personnel have validated it. The month, day, and year that the vaccination was received must be recorded on all school immunization.
(To review in Spanish please go to the website listed in my favorites)
If you need a copy of the most current health record the school has please call the nurse to request a copy.
If you use the Conscientious Exemption, use the address listed below to obtain the form. It is good for 2 years We are no longer allowed to get the form! The Address is : Texas Department of Health, Immunization Department 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756
The form must be notarized in order to be considered complete and authentic. Each individual requesting an exemption must have their own form. Families may not list all children on one form.
ATTENTION! If your child has a fever of 100 or more, please see your physician. Do not allow your child to attend school until the symptoms are gone for at least 24 hours (medication free). If your child has flu like symptoms with fever, please keep them home until symptoms subside. THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT SPREAD OF THE FLU. If your child has vomiting or diahrrea please do not allow your child to attend school until the symptoms are gone for at least 24 hours(medication free).
Flu News:
The CDC is asking that anyone with flu like symptoms be checked by a physician.The H1N1 flu are similar to the symptoms of the influenza virus most are familiar with.The good news is that most people who become infected will do fine and will not have any long term complications.Those who are immune compromised, older or pregnant may be at higher risk of complications or serious respiratory illness.The most common swine flu symptoms include:CoughCongestionBody aches Joint Pains Fevers Sore throat Headaches Fatigue Decreased energy Rarely death
Transmission The viral infection is transmitted to humans who are in contact with swine, although there are several cases of swine flu in people who had no known exposure to either infected people or pigs. Once the species barrier is crossed, human to human transmission can occur with casual contact or airborne transmission, like when one sneezes or coughs. Prevention Washing hands routinely with soap and warm water, using hand santizer, coughing into the crook of your arm or tissue and throwing the tissue away. Treatment If you contract the swine flu, there are 2 flu medications which can be helpful. The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. These medications can also be used for the usual avian influenza. Remember- most with flu symptoms simply have a viral infection and NOT the swine flu. Maintaining adequate hydration is very important if you contract any viral illness. The swine flu is diagnosed when a physician suspects infection, and sends a nasopharyngeal swab in a special viral collection container to a special lab to be tested.
BELOW ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND DIFFERENCES OF FLU VS COLDS
Colds and flu are both caused by viruses and can cause symptoms such as coughing and sore throat. A cold is a minor infection of the nose and throat. The flu, however, is usually more severe with higher fevers and the addition of aches and pains.
Different Types of the Flu
THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF FLU A, B, and C.
How You Get the FluRemember when mom told you to cover your mouth when you cough? She was right. Flu viruses spread in droplets caused by coughing or sneezing. Basically the virus needs to pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth. In addition to being in striking distance from that sneezing and coughing coworker, if you’ve touched a contaminated surface like a telephone or a door knob the viruses can pass from your hands to your nose or mouth. And the risk of infection gets even greater in highly populated areas like schools, buses and crowded living conditions. Complications of the FluA possible complication of flu is bacterial pneumonia, which can occur in lungs weakened by the flu. Pneumonia can also be caused by the flu virus itself. Complications usually appear after you start feeling better. You may have a brief period of improvement, followed by a sudden onset of the following symptoms:
Bacterial pneumonia can be a very serious and sometimes life-threatening condition; therefore, if you or a family member experiences any of these symptoms, you should speak to your healthcare provider immediately. Flu Complications in Children and TeensAlthough very few children develop Reye’s syndrome, you should consult a healthcare provider before giving aspirin or products that contain aspirin to children. Acetaminophen does not seem to be connected with Reye’s syndrome. Reye’s syndrome begins with nausea and vomiting, and can lead to mental symptoms such as confusion or delirium. Other complications of the flu that can affect children are:
BE SURE THAT HANDWASHING IS STRESSED TO YOUR CHILDREN
Staph/MRSA
MRSA is a type of staph that has developed antibiotic resistance (certain antibiotics are unable to kill the bacteria).
Since staph is spread primarly by direct (skin-to-skin) human contact or with direct contact to infection drainage of someone who is carrying or infected with the bacteria, anyone with a break in his or her skin is at risk.
MRSA may also occur less frequently through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or items.
Most STAPH infections are skin infections that appear as a pustule or boil which is red, swollen, painful and has pus or other drainage.
These skin infections commonly occur at sites of visible skin trauma, such as a cut or an abrasion.
If your child has any of these signs or symptoms, you should call your doctor immediately.
Students and their family members should take the following precautions to help prevent skin infections:
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Practice good hygiene (e.g., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) and showering immediately after participating in exercise;
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cover any skin trauma such as an abrasion or a cut with a clean dry bandage until healed;
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avoid sharing personal items (e.g., towels, razors, deodorant, makeup, soap) that come into contact with your bare skin; and
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help your child to keep fingernails clean and clipped short.
Our staff takes extra precautions in cleaning and disinfecting our facilities to help prevent staph infections.
Due to the current news articles about Staph and MRSA check my weblinks for CDC to veiw the latest pictures and information.
4 Steps to Safe Backpack Use Below are helpful tips to insure you know how to safely use your backpack in order to promote spinal health.
Head lice! Please check your children from time to time.
Head lice are tiny insects that live on the human scalp. They are wingless insects that have claws on each of their six legs that enable them to cling to human hair shifts. An initial infestation usually consists of less than 12 adult head lice. Head lice exist on blood feedings that they obtain from the head of a human host. If separated from the environment and sustenance of a human host, a louse will starve to death and die within 1 – 3 days. Head lice do not inhabit a physical environment and/or subsist off anything other than human blood. Head lice are transmitted from one human to another by some form of direct or indirect head to head contact. Common forms of transmission among children are head to head contact or sharing personal items such as combs, hairbrushes, hats, coats, hair clips, ribbons, scarves or other head coverings. The type of lice that infest human’s head DO NOT infest other animals nor vice versa. In an active case of head lice, nymphal or adult lice (1-2 mm long) are present. Grayish white oval nits are found firmly attached to the hair shaft near the scalp. (Nits may appear as dandruff flake but cannot be flicked off such as dandruff can) The nits are glued to the hair shaft with cement that the female louse secretes. Nymphal and adult head lice can be difficult to detect visually because they tend to crawl towards a darker region when exposed to light and head lice are capable of crawling rapidly along human hair shafts. For this reason the identification of active head lice infestation is best confirmed by the presence of eggs less than ¼ in. from the scalp rather than the presence of actual head lice.
If you find your child does have lice or eggs, there are several products over the counter that you may purchase. Just follow the instructions on box or bottle. If any questions please feel free to call your school nurse.
Elementary: Katherine Smith RN 903-482-8826
Middle: Gayla Wood RN 903-482-8878
High School: Cynthia Tillett RN 903-482-8862
Medication Rules Please remember if your child takes medication on a daily basis and must be administered at school, stop by the nurses office to bring the medication (in it's original bottle with the correct instructions on the label). At that time you may also sign the proper paper work.
If your child carries an inhaler at school or school functions they must have a note from their Physican stating it is okay for the student to carry and self administer the inhaler, plus a signed medication sheet on file with the nurse.
News of Interest! Risk for Meningococcal Disease The Meningoccal Disease is devastating, with risks that can include amputation, scarring, hearing loss and neurological damage and Death. Students going to college and staying in Dorms are the most at risk with up to 5 times higher fatality rates that other ages. YOUNGER students are also be at risk. This immunization may be required by some colleges for Students going to college and staying in Dorms for the first time. The immunization injection for this is not required yet for School age students, but may be required in the future!
SEE LINKS BELOW YOU WILL FIND INFORMATION ON DISEASES, ILLNESS'S, FLU, WEST NILE VIRUS, BODY PIERCING, TATTOO'S AND OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION ON THESE SITES JUST FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES
FOR ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME THANKS, CYNTHIA TILLETT RN 903-482-8862 FAX: 903-482-8885 
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