Requirements:

Maryland State Law requires all students to receive age appropriate immunizations. The school must have proof of immunizations before allowing a student to begin school. These immunizations can be given at your physician's office or at the Carroll County Health Department.

Immunization Requirements for 2006-07 are:

For Preschool students:
4 DTP
3 Polio
1 MMR - the first MMR MUST be given on or after the first birthday
1 Varicella (chickenpox) MUST be given on or after the first birthday
3 Hepatitis B
1 Hib -after 12 months of age
1 Prevnar - after 12 months of age

For Kindergarten through 9th grade students:
4 DTP or 3 DTP (if over the age of 7)
3 Polio
2 MMR - the first MMR MUST be given on or after the first birthday
1 Varicella (chickenpox) or 2 if the child has not had chickenpox or the vaccine prior to the age of 13. MUST be given on or after the first birthday
3 Hepatitis B

For tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students:
3 DTP
3 Polio
2 MMR - the first MMR MUST be given on or after the first birthday

Clinics:

Walk-In Immunization Clinics are every Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call CCHD at (410)-876-4900 to verify clinic dates/hours

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. I am coming from out of state, will the immunization record from my state allow my child to start school?

Immunization requirements sometimes vary from state to state and your child must meet Maryland requirements to attend Carroll County Public Schools. If you have the record from your previous state, that information will be transferred to a Maryland form by the school nurse and your child may start. If your child does not meet Maryland requirements, you will be given a time frame to meet Maryland requirements. (See question 3.)

2. What if my child received their first MMR or Varicella prior to their first birthday?

As of November 24, 2005, Code of Maryland Annotated Regulation changed to include the following "....A preschool or school, public or private, may count as valid, vaccine doses administered less than or equal to 4 days before the minimum interval or age." this means that your child is in compliance with the state regulation if he/she received either the first MMR or Varicella nno earlier than 4 days before their first birthday. If it was administered earlier than that they must receive another immunization or have a bloot titer drwan that indicates they have immunity to the disease. If the blook titer does not show immunity, the child must then still receive another immunization.

3. What if my child has had some of the immunizations, but not all, can they start school?

In order to start school a child must have at least one of every type of immunization. If your child has at least one of each, they may begin school as long as the school has proof of an appointment within 20 days of the start of school (or the earliest date the vaccine may be given). This proof of the appointment must be given to the school on or prior to the first day your child starts. If your child requires more immunizations than can be administered at one visit, you must continue to present proof of an appointment for subsequent immunizations. You must present proof of the immunizations to the school the next day after the appointment, or your child will be excluded from school until the school has verification of the immunizations.

4. What if my child will not turn 5 until after the start of school? Can I wait to get his/her second MMR until his/her fifth birthday?

The recommended time for the second MMR is between the ages of 4 and 6. Students entering Kindergarten must have 2 MMR's to attend. Your child does not need to wait until his/her fifth birthday in order to receive this immunization.

5. What if my doctor is out of the vaccine?

If your doctor is out of the vaccine, you may go to the Carroll County Health Department. They have a walk in immunization clinic. Please call the health department at (410) 876-4900 for dates and times.

6. What if I cannot locate a copy of my child's immunization record?

Your child cannot start school without a record of their immunizations. Your doctor should have a copy of the immunizations your child received. If you cannot obtain a copy from the physician, you will need to contact the Carroll County Health Department, (410) 876-4900, to assist you. The record may be able to be recreated, if you have some form of documentation, or blood titers may be drawn, or your child may need to receive additional immunizations.

7. Are foreign exchange students required to have proof of immunizations?

Foreign exchange students are required to meet Maryland Immunization requirements.

8. What if my child has a medical condition which prevents him/her from receiving vaccinations?

If your child has a temporary or permanent condition which prevents him/her from receiving vaccinations, your doctor must complete the Medical Contraindication portion of the Immunization Record (DHMH 896) with the reason for not receiving the immunization(s). The doctor must indicate if the condition is temporary or permanent. If the condition is temporary, the doctor must include when the child will be able to receive the vaccination.

9. Immunizations violate our religious beliefs, can my child attend school?

COMAR 10.06.04, Required Immunizations for School Entry, allows parents to claim exemption to immunizing their child on religious grounds. If your child is not immunized, they may be excluded from school if there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease. This decision will be made by the County Health Officer.