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Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools
{Health Services Phone Number: (412) 622-3940} {Parent Hotline: (412) 622-7920}
New Immunization Policies
By mandate of the Allegheny County Health Department, Public School students without complete immunization records (see Required Immunizations) cannot be admitted to school after September 30, 2009.
We don’t want to exclude any child from attending school, but we must follow the law. Please take your child to the doctor, or attend one of the free clinics at one of the locations listed below.
Students are not permitted to return to school until they have received their required immunizations. If students come to school and are not caught up on their immunizations, parents will be called to pick them up.
The only exception will be made for those parents who have requested in writing a waiver for religious/moral or medical reasons. The District is legally mandated to report the names of all students not immunized to the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families.
Clinic guidelines:
- Students in grades K-6 must be accompanied by a parent.
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Students in grades 7-12 must have a parent permission form which can obtained in advance at each clinic site or downloaded here:
- All students need to bring their immunization record (Download Form) with them. If you are not sure what immunizations your child needs, call our Health Services Department at 412-622-3940.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why should my child be immunized?
- It’s our county’s law! Children who are not properly immunized can be excluded from school, and we want children in school every day because we know that education is the key to their future! Immunizations provide protection from diseases that are preventable. They also lessen the chance of spreading these diseases to the very young and elderly, who generally are most at risk of developing harmful complications. Immunizations will help to keep children healthy, prevent problems as they grow older and stop diseases from spreading in our communities.
- Are immunizations harmful?
- Immunizations offer protection from diseases that may have a serious negative impact on the health of children and communities. Some children may experience side-effects such as soreness, sleepiness, moodiness or redness where the shot was given. In order to make immunizations as safe as possible, the federal government has strict rules that require several levels of testing before a new immunization is approved, distributed and used.
- Are immunizations linked to autism?
- A significant amount of research has been conducted to determine if there is a link between autism and immunizations. Currently, no connection has been established.
- Why have the immunization requirements for school-aged children changed?
- Public health authorities continue to learn more and more about how to prevent the spread of diseases. In addition to healthy habits such as washing hands often, covering your cough or sneeze by turning away, staying home if ill and away from others who are ill, and avoiding touching your eyes/nose/mouth, immunizations are an important step toward staying healthy. New immunizations are required as health officials identify the need to make sure the public is protected as early in life as necessary from diseases. For example, in the past a meningitis vaccine was required for students going off to college. But now, with more and more cases of meningitis among children who are younger than college age, the decision has been made to immunize earlier.
- What are the new immunization requirements?
- The three new immunization requirements to further protect our youth are:
- a second dose of varicella for children who have never had chickenpox [grades K-12];
- one dose of Tdap which provides a booster against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis [whooping cough] [grades 7-12]; and
- one dose of meningococcal vaccine to protect against meningitis [grades 7-12].
Does my child’s doctor know that there are new immunization requirements?
- Yes. All doctors have been informed through the Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatricians, Committees on Immunization Practices, and the Allegheny County Health Department.
- Where can I take my child to be immunized?
- You can go to your child’s doctor for immunizations or to the Allegheny County Health Department. The Health Department phone number is 412-578-8060. You can also contact your child’s school nurse practitioner for help in finding an immunization clinic near your school or home community.
Important Documents
Last Chance Clinic Dates
For students in grades K-12
Allegheny County Health Department
3441 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.:
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wed.: 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
(412) 578-8060
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