Parents - Are Your Kids Ready for School?

The links below will provide current information. Please let your school's nurse know if you have questions.

• Vaccine Requirements for children attending grades Kindergarten-12th
• Vaccine Requirements for Preschool students
  
• Recent changes in immunization law
  

Pertussis
Snohomish County is experiencing an increase case of Pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. 

Whooping cough is a contagious disease that is particularly harmful to infants who have not yet developed immunity or been immunized. The only effective way to slow the spread of whooping cough is to dramatically increase immunization rates. People of all ages need booster shots to maintain their immunity.

Pertussis starts like a common cold with a runny nose.  Within several days a cough develops.  The cough frequently occurs in spasms which can sometimes be followed by vomiting or a "whooping" sound.  The cough may last for weeks or months.

If your child has developed these symptoms, please keep him or her out of school and contact your health care provider about the illness. It is important that your health care provider test your child if he or she suspects pertussis. 

At school, we continue to remind young people to cover their cough, wash their hands frequently and stay home when feeling sick. Staff members are referring students with persistent coughs to our Health Rooms so we can work with families. We strongly believe in our partnership with you and hope this information is helpful as we work together to help all children succeed in school.

Pertussis Fact Sheet

The most important precautions families can take to remain healthy are:

• Wash your hands – use warm water and soap and continue to scrub through two choruses of the Happy Birthday song
  
• Cover your cough – encourage family members to use the inside of the elbow to help limit the spread of germs when coughing or sneezing
  
• Stay home when sick - Centers for Disease Control (CDC) staff recommend those sick with this illness to stay home for 24 hours after the fever subsides (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
  

In deciding when to keep your child at home, answer these three questions:

Does your child have fever (100º Fahrenheit or higher)?
Does your child have a sore throat, cough, or other flu-like symptoms?
Does your child's behavior seem different? Less able to enjoy usual activities, loss of appetite, or increased desire to sleep?

Be Prepared
Please make certain school staff have updated emergency contact information and have a back-up plan prepared in advance.

Consider these potential decisions:

• Who can care for my sick child if I must go to work?
• Who can care for my child if I become ill?

For commonly requested medical forms