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Norwood City Schools Health Team
District Nurse
Kathy Strasser, RN, BSN, MS, NCSN
HS office # 924-2882/cell 513-379-2588
Health Aides
Tammy Guy-HS 924-2881
Sue Biven-MS 924-2721
NView 924-2614
Diana Rhodes-William's 924-2524
Tammy Blair-Sharpsburg Primary 924-2653
Kim Giles-Sharpsburg Elementary 924-2605
HS office hours: 07:30-3:00
MS and Elementaries 08:30-3:00
Immunization Changes for 2010-11 school year:
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) recently added additional immunization requirements for school entry for Ohio’s Kindergarten and 7th grade students, which will go into effect for the 2010-2011 school year.
The changes in effect for the 2010-11 school year are:
- ---The addition of a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) or tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster requirement for 7th grade.
--- The addition of a 2nd dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for Kindergarten entry.
--- A requirement that the final dose of polio vaccine be administered on or after the 4th birthday for Kindergarten entry.
These new Ohio requirements more closely reflect recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and involved consultation of local health districts, medical providers, the state Medicaid program, and school nurses. By requiring these additional vaccines, ODH hopes to minimize the spread of preventable illnesses in schools and provide Ohio’s children with a healthier environment to learn.
ODH wants parents of children entering the 7th grade to have their youngsters vaccinated with the Tdap vaccine to protect against pertussis (also known as whooping cough), a severe respiratory illness that causes violent, rapid coughing that can last for extended periods of time. Cases of pertussis, which mostly occur in school settings, nearly doubled in Ohio between 2008 (628 cases) and 2009 (1,096 cases).
Like pertussis, varicella (known as chickenpox) is a vaccine-preventable disease that continues to sicken Ohio’s school-age children. A second dose of varicella vaccine provides a child with 99 percent protection against the disease. By requiring this dose before school entry, ODH believes there will be a significant reduction in outbreaks of the disease in Ohio schools.
A letter was sent home to incoming 7th graders at the end of the 2009-10 school year explaining the changes.These required changes will be strictly enforced for all students. If your child is in need of immunizations, please avoid exclusion and make an appointment with your child's pediatrician,call the Norwood Health Dept. @ 458-4600 for times and availability of the required vaccines, or call the school nurse, Kathy Strasser, RN @ 924-2882.
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