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DoDEA School Health Services Manual 2942.0 Volume 1 Revised: 2016 DRAFT
sponsor/parent/guardian each school year that the exemption is being
requested. Medical counseling is required annually and documented; see
DoDEA Form H-2-2 or H-2-2a. In working with sponsors/parents/guardians
that are requesting religious exemption from immunizations for their
dependent, the school nurse may consult with the military clergy or command
medical authority for additional guidance.
Other documentation that the school will honor in lieu of a DoDEA School Health
Form H-2-2 includes:
•
A primary care manager/provider statement indicating the reason for the
exemption request,
•
State agency-generated immunization certificate indicating vaccine(s)
have been waived for medical reasons,
•
American Academy of Pediatrics “Refusal to Vaccinate” statement.
When documenting the immunization exemption information in the DoDEA-
approved SIS, follow the recommended directions for correct methods of
documentation. This allows the school nurse to generate a report of students who are
not vaccine-protected, should a vaccine-preventable epidemic be declared by the
medical command. Students who have “waived” immunizations are to be excluded
from school attendance and all after school activities including sports, until the medical
command has declared the epidemic over.
F-2-4
Talking to Sponsors/Parents/Guardians About Immunizations
School nurses play a key role in communicating to sponsors/parents/guardians
the importance of immunization compliance. Often, families have concerns about their
dependent receiving vaccinations or wish their dependent to be exempt from some or
all required vaccinations. School nurses are in the position to teach those families who
may be misinformed regarding immunization safety and lack knowledge regarding the
benefits of immunizations. Parents need to know that vaccines protect their dependent
from contracting preventable diseases and that unvaccinated individuals may
unknowingly spread a preventable disease to another child or adult who is
immunocompromised. This may put the immunocompromised person at risk for
untoward complications, even death. Nurses also have the obligation to put their own
personal views aside, (if a nurse decides not to be immunized or doesn’t immunize their
own dependents) they still need to promote health by prevention of communicable
diseases at school, which requires vaccinations. Families who are determined to sign a
vaccine waiver need to be referred to their primary care provider for medical
counseling.
An annual signed exemption form assists the school nurse to keep updated on
who might be at risk and to continue the dialogue with families to re-educate them on
the value of prevention through immunization.