Health Information

Immunization Requirements:

Required immunizations by grade are as follows:

Kindergarten – Grade 4: 2 Hepatitis A, 3 Hepatitis B, 5 DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR & 2 Varicella

Grade 5: 3 Hepatitis B, 5 DtaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR and 2 Varicella

Grades *6-11: 3 Hepatitis B, 5 DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 2 Varicella, 1 Tdap (Tetanus & Pertussis) & 1 MCV (Meningococcal)

Grade 12: 3 Hepatitis B, 5 DTaP, 4 Polio, 2 MMR, 2 Varicella, 1 Tdap & 2 MCV (Meningococcal) and 2 Hep A

Documentation is due by the first day of student classes.

If you have any questions about immunizations, please contact your school health provider. Please provide documentation of immunizations as vaccines are completed to the attention of your school nurse (or aide).

IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULES THAT ARE OUTLINED BY THE STATE OF INDIANA PLEASE PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE WAIVER FORMS FOR ALL CHILDREN ATTENDING PTSC SCHOOLS.

Indiana Vaccine Registry

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Fevers: Please keep your child home 24 hours until fever free without over the counter

fever reducing medicines. This is vital in reducing the spread of contagious illnesses.

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If your child is diagnosed with a contagious or severe temporary illness/injury, please notify your school nurse. When diagnosed with serious chronic illness lasting 6 months or longer, please notify the health office personnel as soon as possible for required paperwork.

Diet-Related Forms

Milk Alternative

Special Dietary Needs

Action Plans

Mental Health Resources

Ranging from mild to severe and incredibly common, mental health issues can

seriously impact student daily activities, especially school attendance & progression.

The National Association of School Nurses and National Parents and Teachers Association

recommend a number of resources available on the PTA site. Please seek qualified

medical attention for any concerns.

Having difficulty sleeping? Check out the Mental Health America screening tools here.

ABSENTEEISM: students who are routinely absent are also more likely to drop out of high

school prior to earning their high school diploma (Spradlin, Stephanie, Chen, Shi, Chen,

Han, & Cierniak, 2012; Spradlin, Shi, Ciernack, Chen, & Han, 2012). FRONTLINE

HYGIENE

INJURIES

Warmer weather means more outside play and a higher risk of injury. The American Academy

of Family Physicians have some guidelines for injury care available here.

Injury specific resources are also available:

STOMACH (gastrointestinal) ILLNESSES:

nausea, vomiting and watery diarrhea are commonly associated with this group of infections. Most people recover by replacing fluids, rarely requiring additional treatments. Severe infections may require medications for the infection and/or IV fluids for dehydration.

Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water is the best preventative measure. Illnesses often last between 4-7 days.

SHIGELLOSIS, CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION

the ISDH Shigellosis quick facts & MN Dept of Health Fact Sheet for C. diff

FDA Foodborne illnesses

Common Illnesses & Issues:

MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus) is spread through skin to skin contact and through open wounds. Good hygiene, thorough hand washing and keeping cuts/wound covered minimizes the risk of spread. Please find the IN Dept of Health QUICK FACTS HERE.

General information is found on their main site here. Care of Skin Infection chart is found here.

If you find that your child has a wound that is not healing properly or develops a fluid filled blister, particularly yellow, green or dark red, please see your primary care provider for evaluation. As always, be sure to take the full course of antibiotics, if ordered. If the site doesn’t improve with anitibiotics, be sure to contact your primary care provider for further instructions.

Lyme Disease

CDC brochure & Protecting Yourself from Ticks and Mosquitos

Fever, muscle & joint aches, rash, headaches & fatigue may be signs of Lyme Disease.

Conjunctivitis (PINK EYE): The Academy of Pediatrics and the Indiana Health Department

advise children experiencing red/pink eyes with purulent (yellow or white cloudy) discharge, matted eyes after sleeping & pain, redness at skin surrounding eyes be excluded until medically evaluated. Students with bacterial pink eye may return to school after 24 hours of antibiotic therapy.

Meningitis Parent Letter

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

Indiana State Law IC 20-30-5-18 requires that school systems provide important information to parents and guardians of all students about meningitis and the vaccines available to prevent one type of this serious illness at the beginning of each school year.

Infections caused by this bacteria are serious, and may lead to death. Symptoms of an infection with Neisseria meningitis may include a high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, confusion and a rash. This disease can become severe very quickly and often leads to deafness, mental retardation, loss of arms or legs, and even death. The bacteria can mainly be spread from person to person through the exchange of nose and throat secretions. This can occur through coughing, kissing, and sneezing. The bacteria are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. However, sometimes the bacteria that cause meningitis have spread to other people who have had close or prolonged contact with a patient with Neisseria meningitidis. People in the same household or anyone with direct contact with a patient’s oral secretions (such as a boyfriend or girlfriend) would be considered at increased risk of getting the infection.

There are two vaccines (Menactra and Menveo) that can prevent most cases of meningitis caused by this bacteria in people over the age of 9 months. The United StatesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination against this disease for all children 11-18 years of age. CDC recommends vaccination of children with the meningococcal vaccine at 11 or 12 years old, with a booster dose at 16 years old. Children ages 9 months-10 years old who have sickle cell anemia or problems with their immune systems should also receive the vaccine. One dose of meningococcal vaccine is required for students in grades 6 – 12.

This is a legal requirement (Indiana Administrative Code 410 IAC 1-1-1). All students entering grades 6-12 need to have a record from the child’s doctor indicating the vaccine was given or a record of this immunization in the state immunization registry (CHIRP) prior to the start of the school year. Many local health departments and private healthcare providers offer this vaccine. Please contact your health care provider for specific instructions regarding your child.

Additional information about meningococcal disease can be found at:

The Indiana State Department of Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Indiana Department of Education School Health Student Services