JHCB - Immunization of Students

1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY

Immunizations prevent the spread of communicable diseases and contribute to a safe and healthy learning environment for students and the broader school community. Utah law requires proof of a student’s immunization against communicable diseases, unless specifically exempted, before the student may attend public school. Utah law also requires the withholding of the weighted pupil unit for a student unless the student has shown proof of immunization or exemption as described herein. The Board of Education of Nebo School District therefore adopts this policy outlining requirements for the immunization of students.

In this policy the term “parent” means the same as the term “legally responsible individual” defined in Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-301 and includes the following:

a student’s parent;

the student’s legal guardian

an adult brother or sister of a student who has no legal guardian; or

the student, if the student:

is an adult; or 

is a minor who may consent to treatment under Utah Code Ann. § 26-10-9, including a minor who is:

married or has been married; 

emancipated as provided in Utah Code Ann. § 80-7-105; 

a parent with custody of a minor child; or

pregnant. 

2. IMMUNIZATION OR EXEMPTION REQUIRED

Under Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-302, a student may not attend a Nebo School District school unless:

The school receives an immunization record that shows:

That the student has received each vaccination required by the Utah Health Department under Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-305, as outlined in section 8 of this policy; or

For any required vaccination that the student has not received, that the student:

Has immunity against the disease for which the vaccination is required, because the student previously contracted the disease as documented by a health care provider; or

Is exempt from receiving the vaccination under Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-303;

The student qualifies for conditional enrollment under Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-308; or

The student:

Is a student, as defined in Utah Code Ann. § 53E-3-903; and

Complies with the immunization requirements for military children under Utah Code Ann. § 53E-3-905.

3. IMMUNIZATION RECORD AND ENROLLMENT

The District’s registration process, as described in Nebo School District Policy JECB, Student Enrollment, will request an immunization record for each student. School officials will use the official Utah School Immunization Record (USIR) form provided by the Utah Department of Health as the record of each student’s immunizations. School officials shall accept any immunization record provided by a licensed physician, registered nurse, or public health official as certification of immunizations, but a school official shall transfer this information to the USIR with the following information:

Name of the student;

Student’s date of birth;

Vaccine administered; and

The month, day, and year each dose of vaccine was administered.

Each school shall maintain a USIR for each student. For each student claiming an exemption, the school shall attach or upload the vaccination exemption form to the USIR.

The school shall maintain up-to-date records of the immunization status for all students in all grades such that all unimmunized students may quickly be excluded from school in accordance with Section 7 if an outbreak occurs.

If a student withdraws, transfers, is promoted or otherwise leaves school, the school shall transfer the USIR and any exemption form with the student’s official school record to the new school, and upon request provide a copy of the USIR and exemption form to the parent.

Within five business days after the day on which a student enrolls in a school, an individual designated by the school principal or administrator shall:

Determine whether the school has received an immunization record for the student; 

Review the student’s immunization record to determine whether the record complies with Section 8; and

Identify any deficiencies in the student’s immunization record. 

If the school has not received a student’s immunization record or there are deficiencies in the immunization record, the school shall: 

Place the student on conditional enrollment as described in Section 6; and 

Within five days after the day on which the school placed the student on conditional enrollment, provide the written notice described in subsection 6.2. 

Schools may keep the official school immunization records in the Utah Statewide Immunization Information System (USIIS). 

4. EXEMPTIONS

A student may be exempt from receiving the required immunizations for medical reasons or for personal or religious reasons as allowed by Utah law. A parent claiming one of these exemptions must provide to the school a completed vaccination exemption form and the additional documentation described in this section. Under Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-304, a vaccination exemption form may be obtained only from the Utah Health Department, and as used throughout this policy, the term “vaccination exemption form” means the form obtained through the Utah Department of Health. To receive a vaccination exemption form, a student’s parent must complete an online education module required by the Department of Health, available at https://immunize.utah.gov/immunization-education-module/, or an in-person consultation at the local health department. Nebo School District and its employees are not authorized to issue vaccination exemption forms.

To qualify for a medical exemption, a student’s parent must provide the school with 

a completed vaccination exemption form, and 

a written notice signed by a licensed health care provider stating that, due to the physical condition of the student, administration of the vaccine would endanger the student’s life or health;

To qualify for a personal exemption, a student’s parent must provide the school with a completed vaccination exemption form stating that the student is exempt from the vaccination because of a personal or religious belief. 

Renewal of Exemptions

A vaccination exemption form submitted under subsection 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 is valid for as long as the student remains at the school to which the form is first presented. 

If the student changes schools before the student is old enough to enroll in kindergarten, the vaccination exemption form accepted as valid at the student’s previous school is valid until the earlier of the day on which:

The student enrolls in kindergarten; or

The student turns six years old.

If the student changes schools after the student is old enough to enroll in kindergarten but before the student is eligible to enroll in grade 7, the vaccination exemption form accepted as valid at the student’s previous school is valid until the earlier of the day on which:

The student enrolls in grade 7; or

The student turns 12 years old.

If the student changes schools after the student is old enough to enroll in grade 7, the vaccination form accepted as valid at the student’s previous school is valid until the student completes grade 12.

Notwithstanding subsections 4.2.2 and 4.2.3, a vaccination exemption form obtained through completion of the online education module created in Utah Code Ann. § 26-7-9 is valid for at least two years. 

5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

School nurses shall report requested statistical information by the specified dates and the names of students who are not in compliance with this policy to the Utah Department of Health in the form or format prescribed by the Department.

6. Conditional Enrollment and parent notice

A student who at the time of school enrollment has not been completely immunized, as provided in this policy, may be allowed a conditional enrollment consistent with Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-308. Unless an extension is granted as provided in subsection 6.4, a conditional enrollment may last only for the period in which the student's immunization record is under review by the school or for 30 calendar days after the day on which the school provides the notice described in subsection 6.2.

Within five days after the day on which a school places a student on conditional enrollment, the school shall provide written notice to the parent, as described in subsection 6.3, that:

Notifies the parent that the school has placed the student on conditional enrollment for failure to comply with the requirements of Utah Code Ann. § 53G-9-302(1) and this policy;

Describes the identified deficiencies in the student's immunization record or states that the school has not received an immunization record for the student;

Gives notice that the student will not be allowed to attend school unless the parent cures the deficiencies, or provides an immunization record that complies with Utah law and this policy, within the conditional enrollment period described in subsection 6.1; and

Describes the process for obtaining a required vaccination.

The notice described in subsection 6.2 must be given:

When possible, in the parent’s preferred language; and

Using one of the following methods of delivery, as determined by mutual agreement between the school and the parent:

Written notice delivered in person;

Written notice by mail;

Written notice by email or other electronic means; or

By telephone, including voicemail.

The principal:

Shall grant an additional extension of the conditional enrollment period, if the extension is necessary to complete all required vaccination dosages, for a time period medically recommended to complete all required vaccination dosages; and

May grant an additional extension of the conditional enrollment period in cases of extenuating circumstances, if the principal and one of the following agree that an additional extension will likely lead to compliance during the additional extension period. 

A school nurse;

A health official; or

A health official designee, including:

A social service provider, as defined in Utah Code Ann. § 53E-3-524;  or 

A culturally competent and trauma-informed community representative. 

For purposes of subsection 6.4, a newcomer student enrolling in a school for the first time is an extenuating circumstance. A newcomer student, as defined in Utah Code Ann. § 53E-3-524, is a student who:

Is three through 21 years old;

Was not born in any state of the United States, including the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and

Has not attended one or more schools in one or more states for more than three full academic years. 

The immunization status of those students enrolled conditionally shall be reviewed by the school every thirty (30) days to ensure continued compliance until the student is completely immunized. If subsequent immunizations are one calendar month past due, the school must immediately exclude the student from school.

A school shall remove the conditional enrollment status from a student after the school receives an immunization record for the student that complies with this policy.

Except as provided in subsection 6.4, at the end of the conditional enrollment period, a school shall prohibit a student who does not comply with this policy from attending the school until the student complies with the immunization requirements set forth herein.

7. Exclusion of Exempt and Conditionally Enrolled STUDENTS

The District shall maintain a record of all enrolled students who are exempt from receiving a required vaccine or who are conditionally enrolled under Section 6, specifically identifying each disease against which a student is not immunized.

Upon the request of an official from a local health department in the case of a disease outbreak, a school principal or administrator shall:

Identify each student who is not immune to the outbreak disease; 

Notify the parent of any student who is not immune to the outbreak disease, providing information regarding steps the parent may take to protect students; and

For a period determined by the local health department not to exceed the duration of the disease outbreak, do one of the following at the discretion of the school principal or administrator after obtaining approval from the local health department:

Provide a separate educational environment for students identified in paragraph7.2.1 that ensures the protection of all students; or

Prevent each student identified in paragraph 7.2.1 from attending school.

A student excluded under subsection 7.2 may not attend the regular educational environment until the local health officer is satisfied that the student no longer risks contracting or transmitting the disease. 

8. REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

Vaccinations must be administered according to the recommendations of the United States Public Health Service's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

A student must meet the minimum immunization requirements of the ACIP prior to school entry for the following antigens: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, and Varicella. 

Before entry into the seventh grade, a student must also meet the minimum immunization requirements of the ACIP for the following antigens: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Varicella, and Meningococcal conjugate.