On Monday, Aug. 12, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) sent out notice to kids and families across the state reminding them that – since children are getting ready to go back to school later this month – “vaccinations are an important part of back-to-school success and overall health and well-being.”
State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer for NC DHHS Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson said it’s critical that students get the required vaccinations before they return to school campuses and start interacting with teachers, school staff and other students.
“Ensuring children are current on their childhood vaccines is essential for both child and family health and well-being,” Cuervo Tilson said. “We encourage parents to work with their children’s health care provider or local health department to make sure they’re up to date to protect them from serious disease and help prevent the spread of disease in the classroom and at home.”
Guilford County has health department centers in both Greensboro and High Point.
The Monday reminder from the NC DHHS noted that “vaccine-preventable diseases” like meningitis, measles and whooping cough still occur in the state and its schools; and it adds that keeping kids up to date on all of their required vaccinations is the best way to keep them healthy and reduce severe illness that create health risks for the kids and cause subsequent unnecessary absences from school.
Also, NC DHHS notes that the cost of the shots shouldn’t be a concern: Those who have no insurance may be vaccinated at low or no cost through the “Vaccines for Children” program – a program that provides free vaccinations to eligible children 18 years of age and under.
Dr. Kelly Kimple, the acting director of the NCDHHS Division of Public Health, stated in the press release that, “Vaccines remain one of the most effective means available to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death.”
Kimple added that getting the shots helps “protect the health of children, their families and the entire community from the spread of these infectious diseases.”
Earlier this month NC Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed August as Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina and the governor announced that NC DHHS is partnering with health care providers in a statewide awareness campaign meant to help ensure that all school-age children and teens are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
It’s not lost on state health officials that some parents and kids have concerns about getting vaccinated, so the NC DHHS is encouraging all parents to talk with their child’s doctor or other healthcare provider about the recommended school vaccinations.
“During that same visit,” the press release notes, “parents can talk with their physician about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine for their children ages six months and older.”
More information and resources are available online such as the list of all vaccines required for school attendance from kindergarten through the 12th grade in the state of North Carolina.
More info can be found at the following link…
These vaccinations ARE NOT REQUIRED for your children to attend school!! In the state of North Carolina, we have two exemptions, medical and religious. DO NOT let them bully you into this parents!
Right, just lie that ‘your’ religion doesn’t allow vaccines even though most of NC church doctrines have such mandate to avoid vaccines.
God doesn’t mind liars apparently.
Religious Exemption
G.S.130A-157. Religious exemption
If the bona fide religious beliefs of an adult or the parent, guardian or person in loco parentis of a child are contrary to the immunization requirements contained in this Part, the adult or the child shall be exempt from the requirements. Upon submission of a written statement of the bona fide religious beliefs and opposition to the immunization requirements, the person may attend the college, university, school or facility without presenting a certificate of immunization.
There is no form for requesting religious exemptions in North Carolina. To claim a religious exemption, the parent or person requesting the exemption must write a statement of their religious objection to immunization, including the name and date of birth of the person for whom the exemption is being requested. This statement would then be provided to schools, child care programs, camps, etc. in place of an immunization record. If a family is requesting a religious exemption for more than one child, a separate statement should be prepared for each child. Statements of religious objection to immunization do not need to be notarized, signed by a religious leader, or prepared by an attorney. They do not need to be submitted to the state for review or approval
Remember “safe and effective”= Sudden and unexpected
Well which is it? Twice in the article it mentions the vaccines are required. Two readers respond they are not. Is the NC DHHS spreading misinformation? Gotta get the Rhino fact checkers on it lol
They are required. But as always, there are exceptions. Not complicated.