IMMUNIZATION ALERT—JANUARY 2015
The current measles outbreak in Orange County underscores the importance of immunizing as many children in our community as possible. It is also a reminder that during an outbreak of a preventable disease such as measles, unimmunized students (including those who have not provided documentation of immunization) may be excluded from school for the length of the incubation period–21 days for measles.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
We encourage all students who have not been immunized to get immunized. Westside Family Clinic at 1711 Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica provides FREE immunizations for children under 18 years old the first Saturday of each month from 12-2:00. No appointment is necessary.
If you have ever signed an immunization waiver and subsequently DID have your child immunized for Polio (4 doses), DTP (5 doses), MMR (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses) or Varicella/Chickenpox (1 dose), please provide the school with an updated record of immunizations immediately. You can (1) bring a copy of the record to the office, (2) send a copy to school with your child ATTN: Nurse, (3) fax a copy to the school (see fax #s below), or (4) email an attachment to nurse Sherry at swaldorf@smmusd.org.
If your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader gets the T-DaP booster (whooping cough, tetanus, & diphtheria for 7-13 year olds now required for entry into 7th grade), be sure to bring documentation to the elementary school nurse so that you will not need to receive unnecessary reminders during the 6th grade and so that your 7th grader will not be delayed in picking up his/her schedule prior to the start of 7th grade.
REMINDERS
There are several students in the district who are “immune deficient” due to either a congenital abnormality or due to cancer therapy. Exposure to unimmunized children poses a risk to these students whose immune systems are unable to protect them. The more district and community members who are immunized, the safer the environment for these fragile students.
Thank you all for helping to keep the SMMUSD community healthy by immunizing your children and keeping the nurses updated on their immunization status.
Sherry Waldorf, R.N., M.N., P.H.N swaldorf@smmusd.org
Roosevelt School Nurse: phone # 310-395-0941 X 68-206 FAX 310-587-1169
Franklin School Nurse: phone # 310-828-2814 X 62-209 FAX 310-449-1252
McKinley School Nurse: phone # 310-828-5011 X 65-119 FAX 310-449-1251