ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS REGARDING IMMUNIZATIONS
I. Immunization Requirements
In accordance with state law and accompanying regulations, the Plainville Community Schools (the “District”) requires each child to be protected by adequate immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella, pneumococcal diseases, meningococcal disease and any other vaccine required by the schedule for active immunization as determined by the Commissioner of Public Health pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-7f, before being permitted to enroll in any program or school under its jurisdiction.
Among other requirements, before being permitted to enter seventh grade, the District requires each child to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease. The District further requires each child to receive a second immunization against measles and tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) before being permitted to enter seventh grade.
Further, each child must have received two doses of immunization against varicella before being permitted to enter kindergarten and seventh grade, and each child must have received two doses of immunization against rubella and mumps before being permitted to enter grades kindergarten through twelve.
By January 1 of each year, children aged 24-59 months enrolled in the District’s preschool program must show proof of receipt of at least one dose of influenza vaccine between August 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. All children aged 24-59 months who have not received vaccination against influenza previously must show proof of receipt of two doses of the vaccine the first influenza season that they are vaccinated. Children seeking to enroll in the District’s preschool program between January 1 and March 31 are required to receive the influenza vaccine prior to being permitted to enter the program. Children who enroll in the preschool program after March 31 of any given year are not required to meet the influenza vaccine requirement until the following January.
Exemption from the applicable requirements of these administrative regulations shall be granted to any child who, before being permitted to enroll:
(1) presents a certificate from a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or local health agency stating that initial immunizations have been given to such child and additional immunizations are in process
(A) under guidelines and schedules specified by the Commissioner of Public Health; or
(B) in the case of a child enrolled in a preschool program or other prekindergarten program who, prior to April 28, 2021, was exempt from the applicable immunization requirements upon presentation of a statement that such immunizations would be contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardian of such child, as such additional immunizations are recommended, in a written declaration, in a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health, for such child by a physician, a physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse. Such statement of religious beliefs shall be acknowledged by a judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate, a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal, a town clerk, a notary public, a justice of the peace, an attorney admitted to the bar of this state, or a school nurse; or
(2) presents a certificate, in a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health pursuant to Section 7 of Public Act No. 21-6, from a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse stating that in the opinion of a such physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse such immunization is medically contraindicated because of the physical condition of such child; or
(3) in the case of measles, mumps or rubella, presents a certificate from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse or from the Director of Health in such child’s present or previous town of residence, stating that the child has had a confirmed case of such disease; or
(4) in the case of haemophilus influenzae type B, has passed such child’s fifth birthday; or
(5) in the case of pertussis, has passed such child’s sixth birthday.
II. Exemptions Based on Religious Beliefs
A. Children Enrolled in Kindergarten Through Twelfth Grade On or Before April 28, 2021
The immunization requirements set forth in Section I of these administrative regulations shall not apply to any child who is enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade on or before April 28, 2021 if:
1. such child presented a statement, prior to April 28, 2021, from the parents or guardians of such child that such immunization is contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardians of such child, and
2. such statement was acknowledged by a judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate, a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal, a town clerk, a notary public, a justice of the peace, an attorney admitted to the bar of the State of Connecticut, or a school nurse.
B. Students Who Transfer from Another Public or Private School in Connecticut
The immunization requirements set forth in Section I of this policy shall not apply to any student who:
1. transfers to the District from another public or private school in Connecticut, and
2. was enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade in the other public or private school on or before April 28, 2021, and
3. presented a statement, prior to April 28, 2021, from the parents or guardians of such child that such immunization is contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardians of such child, and such statement was acknowledged by a judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate, a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal, a town clerk, a notary public, a justice of the peace, an attorney admitted to the bar of the State of Connecticut, or a school nurse.
C. Children Enrolled in Preschool or Prekindergarten Prior to April 28, 2021
Any child who is enrolled in a preschool program or other prekindergarten program prior to April 28, 2021 who:
1. presented a statement, prior to April 28, 2021, from the parents or guardians of such child that such immunization is contrary to the religious beliefs of such child or the parents or guardians of such child, and
2. such statement was acknowledged by a judge of a court of record or a family support magistrate, a clerk or deputy clerk of a court having a seal, a town clerk, a notary public, a justice of the peace, an attorney admitted to the bar of the State of Connecticut, or a school nurse, but
3. did not present a written declaration from a physician, a physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse stating that additional immunizations are in process as recommended by such physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, rather than as recommended under guidelines and schedules specified by the Commissioner of Public Health
shall comply with the immunization requirements provided for in Section I of these administrative regulations on or before September 1, 2022, or not later than fourteen (14) days after transferring to a program operated by a school under the jurisdiction of the District, whichever is later.
In accordance with state law, the Plainville Community Schools Board of Education (“Board”) and the District shall not be liable for civil damages resulting from an adverse reaction to a nondefective vaccine required to be administered by state law.
If the parents or guardians of any child are unable to pay for any required immunization, the expense of such immunization shall, upon the recommendation of the Board, be paid by the town of the child’s residence.
The District designates school nurses as the representatives for receipt of reports from health care providers concerning student immunizations.
The current required immunizations for elementary (including preschool), middle and high school students can be found at: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/School-Nursing/Forms/Immunization_Requirements.pdf.
In implementing these regulations, the District shall consider state guidance and supporting documents and comply with applicable law.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
§ 10-204a Required immunizations
§ 10-204c Immunity from liability
Public Act No. 21-6, “An Act Concerning Immunizations”
Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies
§ 10-204a-2a Adequate Immunization
Letter to Superintendents of Schools et al. from Connecticut State Departments of Public Health and Education, Reinstatement of Prekindergarten and Kindergarten School Immunization Entry Requirement for Haemophilus Influenza Type B (Hib) Vaccine, June 25, 2010.
Letter to Superintendents of Schools et al. from Connecticut State Departments of Public Health and Education, Changes in the Immunization Requirements for School Entry, March 15, 2011.
State Department of Education, Guidance Regarding Public Act 21-6, “An Act Concerning Immunizations,” May 25, 2021.
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