Immunization Requirements for School Entry
California law requires all children to be fully immunized with all state required vaccines in order to attend school. We are unable to allow a child to attend class if they have immunizations currently due on the date of admission.
The only exception to this requirement is if your child has a medical condition which makes vaccination medically inadvisable. If this is the case, the school/district will need a medical exemption from your doctor entered into the California Immunization Registry for Medical Exemptions (CAIR-ME) online database.
California accepts only medical exemptions from a California licensed physician (MD or DO). As of January 1, 2021, California law states that medical exemptions must now be entered in the CAIR-ME database for all new medical exemptions being issued, or when the child enters the next grade span (7th grade). Parents can request exemptions from their doctor via https://cair.cdph.ca.gov/exemptions/home.
Information and FAQ’s about medical exemption requirements can be found at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/School/laws-exemptions.aspx
The immunization laws in California were updated on July 1, 2019. The requirements of the new law can be found at https://www.shotsforschool.org/laws/regs2019/#Q16. Several changes were made to the requirements, and students admitted to any school in California after 7/1/19, whether for the first time or as a transfer student, are subject to the new laws.
For information about the specific immunization requirements for school children in California, please visit http://www.shotsforschool.org/k-12/.
Sincerely,
Abby Silver, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC
Coordinator of Health Services
South Pasadena Unified School District
If you would like more information about where to obtain vaccinations for families and children, please click on the file entitled Health Community Resources.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE NURSE REGARDING SERIOUS FOOD ALLERGIES
If your child has a serious food allergy, please let your child’s teacher and the school Health Clerk know about it. Particularly in the elementary grades, class parties often include food treats. You are welcome to drop off safe, alternate treats or snacks for your child so that his/her teacher can substitute the safe snack for the food that the other children in the class are eating. Please consult your child’s teacher to make these arrangements.
If your child requires Benadryl or epinephrine (EpiPen, etc.) at school to be used in the event of an exposure to a food allergen or an anaphylactic reaction, please complete the District’s Medication Consent form and have it signed by your doctor at the beginning of every school year. California law requires that a new form be submitted annually. Medication must be picked up at the end of the school year or it will be discarded.
ALLERGIES REPORTED ON AERIES ARE NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE DISTRICT MEAL PROGRAM. If you would like your child to participate in the meal program, please visit the Food and Nutrition Services website (under Departments) for more information. A completed Medical Accommodation form (under the Menus tab) is required and must be signed by your child’s physician. Once this is complete and received, you will be contacted by the Food Services Nutrition Director. Please do not assume this has been put into action without direct confirmation from the Nutrition Director. Please be advised that the safest option is to prepare his/her lunch at home so that you can be certain that your child is not being exposed to any foods to which they is allergic. Substitutions can occur without warning, and occasionally vendors are replaced, which may mean that a type of food which had ingredients that were previously safe is no longer be safe.
Thank you for your consideration.