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JLCB Immunization Requirements

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS ENTERING RSU 1 SCHOOLS

All parents/guardians registering a student in the RSU 1 must show written proof that their student has received the following immunizations per State of Maine Immunization Law, before the student may attend school. If written proof is not provided prior to the first day of school, an official notification will be sent by the superintendent to the parent/guardian that the student must, by law, be excluded from school until the documentation is received.

All children attending a public school or participating in any public school program in person, on school grounds, or a private school in Maine must have the following immunizations.

A. REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

CHOICES Pre-K Program

● 4 DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis)

● 3 Polio ● 1 MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)

● 1 Varicella (chickenpox) or reliable documented history of disease provided by a physician or other primary care provider. K-12th Grade

Required for Kindergarten entry:

● 5 DTaP (4 DTaP if 4th is given on or after 4th birthday)

● 4 Polio (3 polio if 3rd is given on or after 4th birthday)

● 2 MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)

● 2 Varicella or reliable documented history of disease provided by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

Required for 7th grade entry:

● All previously required vaccines

● 1 Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)

● 1 Meningococcal Conjugate (MCV4)

Required for 12th grade entry:

● All previously required vaccines

● 2 MCV4 (only one dose is required if the 1st dose is given on or after 16th birthday) OR

● Medical exemption for one or all vaccines

● Laboratory evidence of immunity to specific diseases

B. EXCEPTIONS

Enrollment or Attendance Without Immunization Information: A child who does not provide a certificate of immunization or proof of immunity against a disease listed in this rule is not permitted to enroll in or attend school unless one or more of the following circumstances apply:

  1. Written Assurance from Parent of Private Effort to Immunize Child: The parent provides the school with a written assurance that the child will be immunized by private effort within 90 days of enrollment or of the child first attending, whichever date is the earliest, in accordance with 20-A MRS § 6355(1). The granting of this 90-day period is a one-time provision. If, after 90 days have passed, the parent fails to provide the required certificate of immunization or proof of immunity against each of the diseases listed in this rule, then the superintendent must exclude the student from school and may permit the student’s return upon receipt of evidence of the required immunizations, immunity or exemption under law.
  2. Written Consent to Immunize Child: The parent grants written consent for the child’s immunization by a public health officer, physician, nurse or other authorized person in their employ, or acting as an agent of the school, where such immunization programs are in effect.
  3. Medical exemption in accordance with 20-A MRS § 6355(2). A parent/guardian must provide a written statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant that, in the licensed physician's, nurse practitioner or physician assistant's professional judgment, immunization against one or more of the diseases may be medically inadvisable.
  4. Individualized Education Plan: In accordance with 20-A MRS § 6355(4), a student covered by an individualized education plan on September 1, 2021 who elected a philosophical or religious exemption from immunization requirements on or before September 1, 2021 pursuant to the law in effect prior to that date, may continue to attend school under that student’s existing exemption as long as: A. The parent or guardian of the student provides a statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant that the physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant has consulted with that parent or guardian and has made that parent or guardian aware of the risks and benefits associated with the choice to immunize; or 2 10-144 CMR Chapter 261. B. If the student is 18 years of age or older, the student provides a statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant that the physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant has consulted with that student and has made that student aware of the risks and benefits associated with the choice to immunize. If a student has an immunization exemption in accordance with this section, the student will be able to maintain that exemption after dismissal from special education services and will be considered exempt until the child is no longer eligible for free, appropriate public education (FAPE).

C. CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZATION: EVIDENCE OF IMMUNITY

  1. Certificate of Immunization: To demonstrate adequate immunization against each disease, a child must present the school with a certificate of immunization from a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant or public health official who has administered the immunizing agent(s) to the child. The certificate must specify the immunizing agent, the dosage administered and the date(s) on which it was administered.
  2. Proof of Immunity: In the absence of a certificate of immunization, the child must present the school with laboratory evidence demonstrating immunity or reliable documented history of immunity provided by a physician or other primary care provider. D. EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL
  3. Exclusion by Order of Public Health Official A child not immunized or immune from a disease must be excluded from school and school activities when a public health official determines that the child’s continued presence in school poses a clear danger to the health of others. The superintendent must exclude the child from school and school activities during the period of danger, or until the child is immunized. If another child attending the same school is infected with, or shows symptoms of, the same disease during the period of danger, the exclusion period for the student who is not immunized or immune must be extended for another full term of the incubation period in accordance with 20-A MRS § 6355(2).
  4. Exclusion by Order of Superintendent In addition to children who do not meet the immunization requirements of this rule, a superintendent may also exclude from schools and school activities any enrolled child if the child is a suspected public health threat by reason of a communicable disease of the skin, mouth or eyes, in accordance with 20-A MRS §6301. The superintendent must also exclude from public school any enrolled child or employee who has contracted or has been exposed to a communicable disease as directed by a public health official.
  5. Exclusion by Order of Department of Health and Human Services The Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to order removal of an enrolled child, in accordance with 22 MRS § 806 and the Maine Control of Notifiable Diseases and Conditions Rule at 10-144 CMR ch 258, Section 9 (E)(3)(b), in the event of an actual or threatened outbreak of a communicable disease or other public health threat. After a determination is made in accordance with 22 MRS § 806(2) that a removed enrolled child is permitted to return, and the public health threat no longer exists, the Department of Health and Human Services will notify the superintendent of that determination.

Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA §§ 6352-6359

10-144 CODE OF MAINE RULES CHAPTER 261 Department of Health and Human Services Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention AND 05-071 CODE OF MAINE RULES CHAPTER 126 Department of Education Last Amended: September 25, 2021 Cross Reference: JLCC – Communicable/Infectious Diseases JRA – Student Educational Records

Adopted: December 15, 2008 Revised: June 26, 2017; May 21, 2018; April 27, 2020; June 27, 2022; December 12, 2022

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