You must provide a physician certified record of your child’s immunizations. The records must indicate the date each immunization was received. A physician statement that, “all immunizations are current”, is not accepted. If your child’s immunization records are not in English, you must submit a translated copy certified by your physician. Records that are not physician certified, such as baby books, are not accepted.

Your school nurse will review your child’s immunizations records to make sure all required immunizations have been received. Your school nurse will notify you ONE TIME IN WRITING, if your child is missing any required immunizations. The parent/guardian should then follow up with your child’s physician to ensure all required immunizations are received. The list of immunizations required by the State of New Jersey is available on the state website.

YOUR CHILD WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO START SCHOOL UNTIL ALL REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL NURSE.

If your child cannot have a required immunization because of a previous bad reaction, your physician will need to complete a “Medical Contraindication” form. Contact your school nurse to get the form.

You will need to submit a written explanation as to how the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with your child’s exercise of bona fide religious tenets or practices. Please make sure the explanation is dated and signed by the parent/guardian. The written explanation must be provided to your school nurse before the first day of school.

Physical examinations must be conducted within 365 days of your child’s first day of school to be accepted. For example; if the first day of school is September 1, 2016 physicals dated on or after September 2, 2015 are accepted for registration. Please have your physician complete the Universal Child Health Record form available online. Be sure your physician indicates the date and results of the physical examination. A statement from your physician simply stating “child is in good health” is not accepted as documentation of a physical examination.

If your child is due to have a physical in the summer, please make sure to call your physician well in advance to schedule an appointment. Pediatricians are often overwhelmed with requests for school physicals in the summer. After the physical examination, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to make sure the Universal Child Health Record and updated immunizations records are sent to the school your child is attending. Original documents are preferred; if possible, faxes are sometimes illegible. Do not send updated forms to the registrar at the Administration building.

UPDATED HEALTH RECORDS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SCHOOL YOUR CHILD WILL BE ATTENDING.

Your health insurance will only cover one well child physical examination per year. If your child’s annual physical examination usually takes place in the fall, the most recent physical examination your child has had to date “should” be accepted for registration. Please provide documentation of your child’s most recent physical examination to your school nurse. Your school nurse will review the physical examination you have provided and inform you if it is not within the accepted time period. If you have received notification from the school nurse that your child is missing immunizations, these must be administered before school starts in September. Missing immunizations cannot wait until the fall to be administered. You need to schedule an appointment with your doctor for the missing immunizations.

You will receive only one notice in writing if your child is missing any immunizations and/or a physical examination. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to follow up with your child’s physician to make sure all required immunizations and a current physical examination are provided to the school where your child is attending. If you register your child late in August, time may not permit your school nurse to send written notification.

If your child does not have health insurance, as a resident of Lawrence Township, you are eligible to have well child examinations and immunizations free of charge at the Lawrence Township Health Department. Appointments are required. Call 609‐844‐7089. DO NOT wait to schedule an appointment. Appointments are limited and demand is high in the summer. Visit the district website for a list of other agencies in the area that provide pediatric care to those who do not have health insurance or are under‐insured. Not having health insurance DOES NOT EXEMPT your child from fulfilling both the immunizations and physical examination requirements for registration.

All children ages 6 months to 59 months attending a preschool program in New Jersey are required by law to have an annual influenza vaccine. The vaccine must be administered between September 1st and December 31st of each school year. The vaccine is not required to start school in September. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that children should be required to have an annual influenza vaccine, even if they are allergic to eggs. The New Jersey Department of Health is reviewing these recommendations and has not yet decided whether children with an egg allergy are going to be required to have the annual influenza vaccine. Until the NJDOH reaches a decision, an allergy to egg is an accepted medical contraindication and any child who is allergic to eggs will not be required to receive the flu vaccine. A note from your child’s physician stating your child cannot have the influenza vaccine because of an egg allergy is required. Updates will be provided to parents once the NJDOH reaches a formal decision. The influenza vaccine is a requirement for preschool students only.

A Mantoux tuberculin test is required of students who were born in or transferring directly from certain countries outside the United States that have a high incidence of tuberculosis. Your school nurse will inform you if your child needs to have a Mantoux tuberculin test and when the test is due by. Please note: written documentation of the results of the Mantoux tuberculin test must be certified by an MD or RN to be accepted.

If your child will need medication in school, written orders from your child’s physician are required. The orders must specify: the diagnosis, reason medication must be given in school, name of medication/equipment or treatment, dose, time(s) to be given at school, date to begin and date to end. Orders must be signed & stamped by the physician. In compliance with New Jersey Department of Health regulations, there are specific forms that need to be completed by your physician depending upon what medication is ordered. All medication forms are available at each school website with an explanation of which form you should have your physician complete. Physician orders are only valid for one year. Please make sure your physician indicates the “effective date” so that the order is valid for the entire school year. If you have any questions regarding the medication policy, please call your school nurse.

YES, you should inform your school nurse if your child has any medical condition, even if medication for this condition will not be required in school. In order to provide the best medical care, it is important for your school nurse to have a current and accurate health history on file in the Health Office. This information remains confidential unless the safety of your child requires the information to be shared with specific school personnel. Any confidentiality concerns you may have should be reviewed with your school nurse. Your school nurse may request more detailed information regarding your child’s medical condition.

The name and phone number of your child’s school nurse is listed on the district website. School nurses can be contacted during the school year, starting in September thru the end of the school year in June. If you registered your child after the close of school in June, your school nurse will be reviewing health records sporadically during the summer months. You will receive written notice from your school nurse if your child is missing any immunizations and/or a physical examination unless you register your child very late in the summer. Not receiving notification of missing immunizations and/or a physical examination does not excuse the parent/guardian’s responsibility to provide the required health registration requirements. All requirements are listed on the district website. The parent/guardian should follow up with their child’s physician to make sure their child is current with all requirements for school.