Royalyn Andrus at West Jordan Elementary posted the following:
I am confused about compliance for immunizations.
It seems that the recommended timing for certain immunizations on the Skyward report differs from actual requirements. I wonder if the parameters can be changed so the report does not show that a child is out of compliance, when he or she is in reality, not out of compliance.
For instance, on Hep. B, Skyward has instituted the “6 month rule” which applies to the Hep A vaccine, but not to the Hep B vaccine. Hep B vaccines should be at least 1 month between the 1st and 2nd shot, at least 2 months between the 2nd and 3rd (ideally it should be 4 months or more). At least 4 months should go by between the 1st and 3rd shots.
What this means is that if a child’s doctor is following recommended procedures for giving immunizations and we enter those dates, our Skyward report shows that the child is out of compliance, when he really is not.
Also, we enter immunizations according to what parents have written on the pink immunization card. If they have made up dates or transposed dates, we have no way of knowing that until the report shows up “non compliant”.
The varacella immunization is required on or after the 1st birthday, but if the student was given the vaccine before their 1st birthday, it shows them out of compliance. Do they really need another dose?
Also, the MMR rules don’t match. Each child should get 2 doses of MMR, the first at 12-15 months and the second at 4-6 years of age. However, when immunizations are entered this way, students come up as non-compliant,
Are the Skyward parameters too restrictive? Can we change that?
1 comment:
Hi Royalyn,
Yep, immunizations ARE confusing! The more you know the worse it seems to be!
Let's break this down and I will try to help answer your questions.
Skyward only recognizes one rule per immunization. Most immunizations have more than one...HIB for example has many, many different schedules in which the child can be compliant. As we get to know this system better, ways are being implemented to bring the largest amount of children into compliancy on our reports. The system is not perfect, neither are the reports, but they are getting better and better all the time.
Skyward is "dose specific" as Delta was not. So children that were "in" with Delta are now "out" in Skward. We are trying to match Skyward as close as we can to the State Rules. This has involved many discussions between myself, the nurses, the State, and the Educational Support Services Office
HepB does have a "six month rule" it is on page 6 of your red Immunization Guidebook. It states that the child needs to be a minimum of 6 months old to recieve the third dose. This rule had not been written into Skyward until this past week. HepB is confusing as two of the three rules written by the State seem to be very restrictive. The first shot can be from Birth on...there needs to be one month between dose one and two, and 2 months between two and three. But where it gets tricky is that all three doses needs to be within a 16 week time period AND the third dose can't be given until the child is a minimum of 6 months old. If the child recieves the first dose when he is born it is almost impossible to meet these guidelines.......The Ped's are doing the best they can with what they are given in this case. The only way to really have everyone fall into compliancy would be to get the first dose later than birth. If the child shows on your report as out of compliant and the parents don't want to deal with it...suggest a waiver?
(check with your nurse)
Concerning MMR...page three of your rule book explains that starting the 2007-2008 school year. Every student Kindergarten through Twelfth grade needs two doses of MMR. The first one on or after the childs first birthday (with a 4 day grace period) and the second must be before the child enters Kindergarten, with a minimum of four weeks between the two doses. The system is written for this, if you have children showing up as out of compliance, call me and I would be happy to check them and the system requirements out for you :)
Varicella guidelines are also on page three of your handbook. It states if the first dose is before the students first birthday, it does not count as a valid dose.
If you have any questions on the validity of doses, call your nurse assigned to your school. They are wonderful people who understand this better than I ever want to :)
and I am sure you feel the same way!
If you have questions about the system, give me a call and I am happy to spend time with anyone with a concern. You gals are the greatest and if I can help in anyway to make your job easier..please call!
Michelle Smolik
#8240
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