 |
 |
| DoDEA Home |  |
Teaching the children of America's military families worldwide
|
|
|
Medical Requirement for DoD School Enrollment |
|
Regulations |
Student Immunization Program Parents registering their children in DoDEA for the school year 2006-2007 will find they must meet additional immunization requirements. In coordination with military medical commands, DoDEA has added three required inoculations for students attending school in the 2006-2007. The three are: Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4); Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine (TDAP – adolescent preparation); and Hepatitis A. The immunization guidelines for military dependent children follow the guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and are based upon recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. These requirements were coordinated with the Military Vaccine Agency. DoDEA does not require new immunizations until told to do so by the Military Vaccine Agency. Therefore, there may be some ACIP/CDC recommended immunizations that are not required by DoDEA. These are minimum requirements. Additional requirements may be determined by the military medical commands based upon needs in specific locations. Additional optional (not required by DoDEA or the local installation) immunizations may be available to students and parents in some locations. Parents can contact their Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) for information on optional and required immunizations. The updated version of the immunizations form can be found here. The use of this form is not mandatory if the MTFs have their own form available for the schools. Some MTFs now have electronic copies of student immunizations and will print a copy for the parents to provide the schools. Parents should keep in mind that the additional immunizations are age-specific and not all students will require all of the additional vaccines. Parents worldwide should also note that military medical clinics have indicated they are in short supply of some of the three new required vaccines. Children will be given extensions to meet the requirement when the vaccine is not available. No student will be denied access to school because they have not had immunizations if the vaccine is unavailable. While these immunizations are required to attend Department of Defense schools, the Military Services, not the schools, are responsible for administering student immunizations. For more information on immunizations for school, contact your school nurse. Special Education and Related Services When appropriate, medical professionals will conduct a medical screening and work with DoD Dependents' Schools personnel to determine whether a child has a disabling condition. First Aid and Emergency Care School principals establish first-aid and emergency-care plans, and the medical authority on each installation review these procedures each year. School personnel cannot give or recommend medicines except as provided in DSM 2942.0. MEDICINE AT SCHOOL Of course, it's best that students not take medicine during school hours. However, when it is necessary for a student to take medication at school, he or she must leave the medication with the school nurse for safekeeping. The medicine must be in a pharmacy-labeled container with the student's name, the name of the medication, and the scheduled dose or doses. Each student must also bring a parent's written permission to take the medication and written orders from the physician. If the school nurse is not present, the student must present the medication to the school principal, acting principal, or health aide for safekeeping. It is important to note that all health aides or other personnel who may be in charge of giving students their medicine must be supervised by a school nurse. Supervision can be written or verbal, on site or off, but the health aide or designee cannot provide health services that only a registered nurse can perform. A qualified school health nurse will train and supervise health aides and designees in areas such as emergency procedures and giving medication before any such procedure can be carried out. In extremely rare situations, students are allowed to keep their medicine with them while in school or at school-related activities. The student's prescribing physician must provide a written statement that the student has to keep the medication at all times; also, a parent must provide written permission for the medication to stay with the student. These rare circumstances are usually for field trips and involve the need to carry asthma medication or an epinephrine kit for severe allergic reactions to insect stings. School Health Services Program Each DoDDS school must have a well-planned health program managed by a school nurse. While the School Health Services Program is not meant to take the place of health care provided by family doctors, the program does help children learn how to stay healthy and perform well in school. A well-planned School Health Services Program should include health assessments, such as tests for vision and hearing, and for placement and assistance of students with disabilities; early identification and help for health problems; school health care plans for students with long-term problems such as asthma, allergy to insect stings, etc.; and control of easily spread illnesses, such as the flu or measles. For more information on your School Health Services Program, contact your school nurse. |
Privacy and Security Notice