IMMUNIZATION WAIVERS NO LONGER TO BE GRANTED

Beginning this school year, immunization exemptions based on philosophical reasons no longer will be granted for Missouri children.

New legislation eliminates philosophical exemptions to immunization. Religious and medical exemptions still will be permitted.

The law also reduces the number of days a student may remain in school prior to immunization from 30 days to 15 days.

Immunization against mumps is required of all students in kindergarten through grade 12.

A summer booster clinic is planned Aug. 18 at the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, 1171 Linden, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A physician's order is preferred, but is not mandatory. A parent or legal guardian must sign permission forms for each child to receive shots.

Parents are asked to bring immunization records. For more information, call 335-7846.

Betty Chong, director of special services at Cape Girardeau Public Schools, said the exemptions for immunization in the schools last year totalling 100 were either philosophical or medical.

Verifying immunization and notifying parents of any problems falls to school nurses, Chong said.

"The 15 school days will of course shorten the time we have to assemble that information," she said.

"We normally inform the parents that their child is in jeopardy of not attending school, and then we send a second notice," Chong said.

With the shortened attendance period, Chong said second notices may not be possible.

Students are excluded from school until proper immunizations take place.

Chong said parents were notified of the changes last spring. In cooperation with the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, more than 250 immunizations were given at that time.

Another clinic is scheduled in August and one will be held in September, right before the cutoff date.

Parents may schedule immunizations with the health department at any time.

Charlotte Craig, director of the county Health Department, said in the past a fall clinic has been scheduled after school starts. That clinic has been moved up to August because of the new law.

"We always have booster clinics in the summer, and quite frankly they are not very well attended," said Craig.

Craig said the philosophical exemptions have not been used by large numbers of parents locally.

"In other parts of the state it has been a problem. Ours has been lack of awareness, I believe," Craig said.

Craig said immunizations work.

"There have been polio outbreaks, but not large ones," Craig said. "The reason, people in public health believe, is the high percentage of immunization.

"But there is a potential for the disease to make a comeback, much like measles.

If people have concerns about the immunizations, they should talk with their doctor," Craig said.