Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Each student
entering any school within the state for the first time, at the time of
registration or entry, shall present satisfactory evidence of immunity to or
immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases according to a schedule
approved by the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH), Office of Public
Health (OPH) or shall present evidence of an immunization program in progress.
Each person entering the sixth grade in any school within the state shall
present satisfactory evidence of immunity to or immunization against vaccine
preventable diseases according to a schedule approved by the Department of
Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health or shall present evidence of an
immunization program in progress.
1. The
schedule shall include, but not be limited to measles, mumps, rubella,
diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, and hemophilus influenzae
type B invasive infections.
2. The
schedule may provide specific requirements based on age, grade in school, or
type of school. At its own discretion and with the approval of the OPH, an
educational institution or licensed day care center may require immunizations
or proof of immunity more extensive than required by the schedule approved by
the Office of Public Health.
3. Any
communication issued to persons, parents, or guardians regarding immunization
requirements for a student attending or seeking to enter any school shall
include information regarding immunization exemptions.
B. A student transferring from another LEA in
or out of the state shall submit either a certificate of immunization or a
letter from his personal physician or a public health clinic indicating
immunizations against the diseases in the schedule approved by the Office of
Public Health having been performed, or a statement that such immunizations are
in progress.
C. If booster
immunizations for the diseases enumerated in the schedule approved by the
Office of Public Health are advised by that office, such booster immunizations
shall be administered before the student enters a school system within the
state.
D. School administrators
shall be responsible for checking students' records to see that the provisions
of this Section are enforced and electronically transmit immunization
compliance reports to the OPH through the Louisiana Immunization Network for
Kids Statewide (LINKS) when the school operates an existing student-specific
electronic data system.
E. No
student seeking to enter any school shall be required to comply with the
provisions of this Section if the student or the student's parent or guardian
submits either a written statement from a physician stating that the procedure
is contraindicated for medical reasons, or a written dissent from the student
or his parent or guardian is presented.
F. In the event of an outbreak of a
vaccine-preventable disease at the location of a school, the principal is
empowered, upon the recommendation of the OPH, to exclude from attendance
unimmunized students until the appropriate disease incubation period has
expired or the unimmunized person presents evidence of immunization.
G. Meningococcal Disease; Information;
Immunization
1. LEAs that provide information
relative to immunizations are required to provide parents and/or guardians with
information relative to the risks associated with meningococcal disease. The
information shall include the availability, effectiveness and known
contraindications of immunization against this disease, causes and symptoms of
the disease, how the disease is spread, and places where a student may be
immunized and where parents may obtain additional information. Information
shall be updated annually if new information is available. The information
shall also include notice that the student may be exempt from compliance with
this Subsection under the conditions set forth in Paragraph 5 of this
Subsection.
2. Students entering
sixth grade shall provide evidence of current immunization against
meningococcal disease as a condition of entry into the sixth grade at any
school in the state.
3. A student
who is 11 years old and is entering a grade other than the sixth grade and a
student who is 16 years old and is entering a grade other than eleventh grade
must provide satisfactory evidence of current immunization against
meningococcal disease as a condition of entry into such grade at any school in
the state.
4. Each student who is
11 years old and each student who is 16 years old and is participating in an
approved home study program pursuant to
R.S.
17:236.1 must provide satisfactory evidence
of current immunization against meningococcal disease to BESE, as required.
5. The provisions of Paragraphs
2-4 of this Subsection shall not apply to students whose parent or legal
guardian have submitted either a signed waiver stating that the student shall
not be immunized against meningococcal disease for personal reasons, a written
statement from a physician stating that the immunization is contraindicated for
medical reasons, or a written explanation indicating the student is unable to
comply due to a shortage of available vaccines against meningococcal
disease.
6. The administrator of
each school is responsible for checking students' records to ensure that the
provisions of this Section are enforced.
H. Human Papillomavirus
1. Each LEA that provides information
relative to immunizations shall provide to the parent or legal guardian of each
student in grades 6-12 information relative to the risks associated with human
papillomavirus and the availability, effectiveness, and known contraindications
of immunizations against human papillomavirus.
2. This information will be provided by the
LDE and updated annually if new information on human papillomavirus becomes
available.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
17:6,
17:170,
17:170.2, and
17:170.4.
