Charlie Crist
Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H.
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Governor
Secretary of Health
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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:
•
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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.
•
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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.
•
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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
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4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A-11
•
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1700
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(850) 245-4342
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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:
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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
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County Health Department Nursing Directors
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Bureau of Immunization Field Staff
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