If you haven’t had your school-aged children vaccinated yet, now’s the time to do it.
Feb. 15 is Exclusion Day. Children who aren’t vaccinated or don’t have a medical or non-medical exemption by then won’t be allowed in school. The state law applies to all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified child care centers.
Exclusion letters have been sent to 8,000 families with unvaccinated children, alerting them to the deadline. Officials said that parents who received one should take their children’s immunization records and health card to their health care provider or clinic.
Immunization requirements can change. This year’s are posted on Multnomah County’s website.
- The Hepatitis A vaccine is required for children and students 18 months and older in childcare, preschool and kindergarten through eighth grade.
- One dose of the Tdap vaccine is required for students in grades seven through 12. Tdap is the tetanus-diptheria and pertussis (whooping cough) booster.
The county is holding two more clinics to help those without insurance and who are under-insured get caught up.
Saturday, Feb. 11:
David Douglas Old District Administration Building
1500 S.E. 130th Ave.
Portland, OR 97233
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 15:
East County Services Building
Sharron Kelley Room
600 N.E. Eighth St.
Gresham, OR 97030
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
To claim an exemption, parents have to get a certificate from their health care provider or watch an online segment and print out the certificate.
For more information, contact:
Multnomah County Health Department Community Immunization Program at 503-988-3406 or visit the website at https://multco.us/health/immunizations
Multnomah Education Service District at 503-257-1760 for information on public school student vaccination records.
Oregon Health Authority’s website at http://public.health.oregon.gov/PreventionWellness/VaccinesImmunization/GettingImmunized/Pages/school.aspx
— Lynne Terry
lterry@oregonian.com
@LynnePDX
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