[Note: Image credit: U.S. Navy. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
Annual Oregon School Exclusion Day is Feb. 17: students need vaccinations
The State of Oregon is reminding parents about required immunizations kids need to have to attend school. February 17, next Wednesday, is School Exclusion Day, and after that date, or when school reopens, students may not be able to attend if their records on file show missing immunizations.
Under state law, all children in public and private schools, preschools, Head Start and certified childcare facilities must have up-to-date documentation on their required immunizations or have an exemption.
The COVID-19 vaccine is not currently required for children; the current Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) do not allow for children under 16 (Pfizer) or under 18 (Moderna) to be vaccinated.
Parents seeking immunizations for their children should contact their health care provider or local health department, or call 211Info — just dial 211 or go to 211info.org. No one can be turned away from a local health department because of the inability to pay for required vaccines. Many pharmacists can immunize children age 7 and older; contact your neighborhood pharmacy for details.
Additional information on school immunizations can be found on the Oregon Health Authority website under Immunization Resources.