Over 200 School District Students Still in Need of Vaccinations

superintendent Dr. Robert Milrod gave both an impassioned plea and a stern warning to the parents and guardians of the remaining 200 students who are yet to fulfill their Pennsylvania Department of Health’s immunization requirements.

Milrod dedicated his superintendent’s report at last night’s Regular School Board Meeting to explain that Upper Moreland School District will follow the state mandate of excluding non-compliant students from school on and after the May 1 deadline.

“It’s just around the corner,” Milrod said.

As , the vaccinations required are:

• 2 doses of varicella (Chicken Pox), instead of the previous 1 dose for all students

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis  

• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine for seventh graders

Milrod said that the requirements have been well publicized, highlighting several news reports, as well as the numerous internal school district announcements throughout the year.

Such internal school district announcements included:

• hard-copy mailers
• e-mails
• district wesbite
• robo-calling
• personal phone calls to families
• discussed during school board committees
• and even school district staff directly informing older student

In working with the county, Upper Moreland School district also hosted free immunizations clinics for its students, which took place on April 23.

 “We’ve done everything we felt we can to alert parents of the requirements of student immunizations prior to May 1,” Milrod said.

On April 30, Milrod said that the school district will again call to alert families of students who are without proper immunization requirements.

“With that phone call, we will also let students know they must bring their parents with them to school on May 1,” Milrod said.

On that date, Milrod said should the student still be found non-compliant to the state mandate, the student and parent will meet with school district personnel to discuss plans on fulfilling the student’s immunization requirements.

“After these meetings, parents and students will be sent home until such time as to when the immunizations are complete,” Milrod said.

He further explained that days missed by students due to the state mandated immunization exclusion, will count as unexcused absences from school.

“This will result in truancy hearings and legal action,” Milrod said.

According to Milrod, as of last night’s Regular Board meeting, there are over 200 students across the district who are still in need of the state required vaccinations. In the April 4 Patch report on this issue, there were approximately 600 students without proper immunization.

Most of the students come from the Middle and High schools.

At the high school alone, there are 135 students found to be non-compliant with the state vaccination requirements.

“I’m asking for support from our parents when it comes to student immunizations,” Milrod said. “This is parental responsibility.”

Milrod directed parents or guardians with needs or questions to the school (www.umtsd.org) or contact their child's school nurse.