New Requirements for Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine in 2016-17
The Washington State Department of Health has issued a new school immunization requirement for Varicella.
Chickenpox disease is spread easily through the air and causes a rash, itching, fever and tiredness. It can be serious for young persons and can cause a potentially very serious disease called shingles even years after the person had chickenpox.
State law now requires that student in Grades K-12 have 2 doses of the Varicella vaccine.
If your student has not had 2 doses of Chickenpox vaccine please do one of the following BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL in September 2016:
- Get two doses of chickenpox vaccine (or one dose if the student has already had one dose) before the start of school, OR
- Get a blood test that shows the student is immune to the disease, OR
- Get a letter or signature on the Certificate of Immunization Status from a licensed healthcare provider to verify that your student had chickenpox disease in the past, OR
- Get a Certificate of Exemption signed by your license healthcare provider.
Report the results to your student's school nurse or to Student Health Services. The address for Student Health Services is:
Student Health Services
Mail Stop 31-650
PO Box 34165
Seattle, WA 98124-1165
Fax 206-252-0751
For more information please see the Washington State Department of Health website, contact your school nurse, or call Health Services at 206-252-0750.
Washington Department of Health:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Schools/Immunization/VaricellaVaccineRequirement