Charlie Crist
    Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H.
    ?
    Governor
    Secretary of Health
    ?
    INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
    DATE:
    May 22, 2007
    TO:
    County Health Department Directors/Administrators
    FROM:
    Bonita J. Sorensen, M.D., M.B.A.
    Deputy State Health Officer
    SUBJECT:
    Kindergarten and Seventh Grade Validation Assessment
    School Year 2006-2007
    FOR INFORMATION ONLY
    In October of each year, all public and private schools submit reports regarding the
    immunization status of their kindergarten and seventh grade students, as required by section
    1003.22(8),
    Florida Statutes
    . County health departments (CHDs) and Department of Education
    staff compile and send this information to the Bureau of Immunization (BOI) for tabulation.
    In March, CHDs receive the results in the annual Kindergarten and Seventh Grade
    Immunization Status Report. The immunization field staff conduct an annual validation
    assessment of kindergarten and seventh grade students to evaluate the accuracy of the status
    report results and to determine if any improvement in immunization levels occurred since the
    initial assessment. This report addresses the findings of the validation assessment.
    Method:
    The BOI randomly selected 60 schools with a kindergarten and 84 schools with a seventh
    grade. The immunization field staff then audited 600 kindergarten student records and 839
    seventh grade student records in both the public and private sectors. Attachment 1 depicts the
    comparison between the findings of the validation assessment and the status assessment
    conducted by the schools, as well as other comparisons. Attachment 2 shows vaccine-specific
    immunization levels and percent of proper documentation.
    Results:
    •
    ?
    The validation assessment revealed that 96.3% of kindergarten students were fully
    immunized, which is a higher percentage than the 94.6% reported in the Kindergarten and
    Seventh Grade Status Report for all kindergarten students in Florida.
    •
    ?
    The validation assessment revealed that 94.4% of seventh grade students were fully
    immunized, which is a 1.7% improvement over the 92.7% reported in the Kindergarten and
    Seventh Grade Status Report for all seventh grade students in Florida.
    •
    ?
    The validation audit also showed 3.6% of students in kindergarten and 5.6% of students in
    seventh grade had improper documentation or no documentation of immunizations.
    Bureau of Immunization
    •
     
    Division of Disease Control
    ?
    4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-11
    •
     
    Tallahassee, FL 32399-1700
    ?
    (850) 245-4342
    ?
    Kindergarten and Seventh Grade Validation Assessment
    School Year 2006-2007
    Page Two
    May 22, 2007
    Concerns:
    Section 1003.22,
    Florida Statutes
    , offers no provision for students to attend school without
    proper documentation of immunizations. However, the validation assessment reveals that
    3.6% of kindergarten students and 5.6% of seventh grade students attend school without proper
    immunization documentation. CHDs should work closely with schools to exclude and refer
    these students for needed immunizations and/or documentation before they return to school. In
    most instances, compliance with the requirement is readily obtained when students are
    excluded from school.
    The validation assessment shows 0.4% of students in kindergarten and 0.2% of students in
    seventh grade have temporary medical exemptions and require follow-up. This is an
    improvement over past years. CHDs should work with public and private schools to ensure they
    maintain adequate follow-up or tracking methods for students holding temporary medical
    exemptions.
    In conclusion, parents, healthcare providers, school health staff, and CHDs must prioritize
    completion of the Hepatitis B series and the other vaccines prior to entry into kindergarten and
    seventh grade to guarantee adequate immunization and protection of students. CHDs should
    work with local community partners to promote implementation of the
    Standards for Pediatric
    Immunization Practices
    and use of the latest Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule
    approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, American Academy of
    Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and by all health professionals
    involved in the immunization of children.
    If you have any questions, please call Miss Emily A. Fogarty in the Bureau of Immunization at
    (850) 245-4342 or SUNCOM 205-4342, extension 2395.
    BJS/cha/eaf
    Attachments
    cc:
    ?
    Bambi J. Lockman, Chief
    Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, Department of Education
    Ginny Rudell, Data Base Management
    Department
    of
    Education
    Ron Lauver, Chief
    Division of Technology and Information Services, Department of Education
    Jean L. Kline, R.N., B.S.N., M.P.H.
    Deputy Secretary for Health
    Russell W. Eggert, M.D., M.P.H., Director
    Division of Disease Control
    Annette Phelps, A.R.N.P., M.S.N., Director
    Division of Family Health Services
    Shannon B. Lease, M.S., Director
    Office of Performance Improvement
    Charles H. Alexander, Chief
    Bureau of Immunization
    ?
    County Health Department Nursing Directors
    ?
    Bureau of Immunization Field Staff
    ?

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