What You Need To Know
As summer winds down and families prepare for the new school year, it’s essential for parents to ensure their children are protected against preventable diseases. Vaccinations play a crucial role in protecting children from preventable diseases and contribute to the well-being of the entire school community.
Before children return to the classroom, make sure they are up to date on all required immunizations. This helps protect not only your child but also their classmates, teachers, and everyone they come into contact with.
Children should receive all age appropriate vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); however, New Jersey has minimum requirements for school attendance which are summarized at Childcare/Preschools and K-12. New Jersey allows two types of exemptions, medical or religious. Guidance on what constitutes a valid exemption can be found here. Requests for exemptions based on philosophical, moral, secular, or more general reasons are unacceptable. All students must provide a copy of their updated immunization records or valid exemptions to the school nurse or the childcare/preschool administrator before the start of the school year.
For those who may be exempt from certain vaccines, FDA-approved and CLIA certified serology tests showing immunity can be accepted in lieu of certain vaccination as per ACIP guidelines. Serology should never be used to abort a recommended vaccination series (e.g., checking serology after 2 doses of a recommended 3 dose hepatitis B series). Providers should review the ACIP/CDC recommendations for serology testing and ensure they are ordering the appropriate tests (e.g., it is never appropriate to order an IgM to assess vaccine-induced immunity). This information is available at Immunization Requirements FAQs.
Check with your healthcare provider to confirm that your child's vaccinations are current. If needed, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Let's work together to ensure a healthy and successful school year for all!
ACTION ITEMS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
- Stay up to date on ACIP recommendations.
- Vaccinate in accordance with New Jersey’s school immunization requirements and the ACIP/CDC-recommended immunization schedule.
- Refer to the NJ Immunization Reminder Checklists for a quick reference on recommended and required vaccines for Back to School/Back to Campus.
- Use every opportunity to assess for immunizations to ensure children are on track with their routine immunizations. For children who are behind, use the Catch-up Schedule to ensure timely completion of the recommended vaccines.
- Consider participating in the NJ Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program to provide free or low-cost vaccines to reduce financial barriers.
- Participate in the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS). Click here to enroll. All health care providers who administer vaccines to children 6 years of age and under are required by law to enter the immunization history into the NJ Immunization Information System (NJIIS), state registry, within 30 days of administration (N.J.A.C. 8:57-3.16).
ACTION ITEMS FOR SCHOOL, COLLEGES, AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
- Review student immunization records to ensure compliance with school immunization requirements.
- Refer uninsured or underinsured children to VFC participating providers to receive vaccinations. Search locations here.
- Participate in NJIIS. Click here to enroll.
- Maintain a list of students who are in the process of catching up on immunizations to ensure timely receipt based on the CDC Catch-Up Schedule accessible here.
- Share NJDOH and CDC immunization educational materials with parents.
- Become familiar with the schools and local health department in your jurisdiction.
- Schools– Submit the Annual Immunization Status Report during the reporting period of January 1 through February 1 to the State Health Department and email a copy to your local health department.
- Colleges– Consider Participating in the NJ College Flu Challenge to help increase flu vaccination uptake within the campus community. More info can be found on the NJDOH website here.
- Local Health Departments– Conduct childcare/school immunization audits and submit the Immunization Audit Report between September 1 through June 30th.
RESOURCES AND REFERENCES
- CDC’s “Back To School” campaign, CDC tools, and partner education toolkit
- CDC Vaccines and Immunizations, cdc.gov/vaccines/
- CDC Vaccine Recommendations and Guidelines of the ACIP, cdc.gov/acip-recs/hcp/vaccine-specific
- New Jersey Department of Health Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, Immunization Requirements, nj.gov/health/cd/imm_requirements/
- New Jersey Department of Health Vaccine Information Toolkit for Parents and Guardians (third bullet in the Educational Section) nj.gov/health/cd/vpdp.shtml
- New Jersey Immunization Information System website, njiis.nj.gov/ and parent brochure, njiis.nj.gov/docs/NJIIS_Your_Best_Shot.pdf
- New Jersey Vaccines for Children (VFC), nj.gov/health/vaccines/programs/vfc/
- New Jersey Vaccines for Children (VFC) brochure for health care providers, njiis.nj.gov/docs/VFCBrochure.pdf
SAVE THE DATE
NJDOH Back to School webinar titled “Best Practices for Disease Surveillance and Prevention for a Healthy School Year” will be held on Wednesday, September 26, 2024. Stay tuned for registration details.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact Jeni Sudhakaran at 609-826-4861 with any questions.