ARLINGTON, VA – The Department of Defense Activity (DoDEA) reminds parents to review their child’s immunization record to ensure their vaccines are current prior to the start of School Year 2009-2010.
Before enrolling in a DoDEA school, students are required to have immunizations that are outlined in the DoDEA Immunization Requirements Form, which is available at: http://www.dodea.edu/foia/iod/pdf/2942_0_M_F1.pdf. While the immunization requirement is not a new policy, it is a standing procedure and one that will continue to be enforced.
DoDEA superintendents will be ensuring that school principals worldwide understand and comply with this policy. When the school nurse notifies the principal that a student is not in compliance with immunization requirements, the school principal will send a letter to the student’s parents informing them of this situation. Students will not be allowed to attend school until they are immunization compliant or the school has a written communication from the medical facility requesting a waiver until the vaccine is available or until there is a scheduled appointment for the student’s immunization.
Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) provide immunizations to students and parents can coordinate with their child’s physician to obtain the required immunizations prior to the start of the school year. In instances where required vaccines are not available, which can happen temporarily, the school superintendent will receive a notification from the MTF, and the student will be allowed to attend school until the vaccine is available.
“Updating students’ immunization is an important part of back-to-school preparations,” said Mary Patton, Chief of DoDEA’s Pupil Personnel Services’ Branch. “School systems nationwide require immunization compliance before a student may enroll in school, and DoDEA follows the same procedures. Part of being ready to learn is being appropriately immunized against diseases that are preventable,” she added.
DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality, public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, the United States, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.
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