Examination and Immunization Requirements
From the District Nurses...
Physical, Dental, and Vision/Eye Exams
Illinois State law requires that prior to entering kindergarten and sixth grade, and those entering school for the first time and all students transferring from outside of the State of Illinois must present evidence of a completed physical examination and required immunizations. Students will be excluded from school if the physical exam has not been completed or if the required immunizations are not documented.
A dental examination is also mandated for students in kindergarten, second and sixth grade. Completed dental examination forms are due to your child's school by May 15th of the school year.
A vision/eye examination, performed by an optometrist or physician who provides complete eye examinations, is required for all children enrolling in kindergarten, and for students enrolling in Illinois schools for the first time.
Sports physicals are mandated by an Illinois statue which requires junior high students participating in the Southwest Interscholastic Conference (SWIC) team sports to have an annual physical examination. Students will be denied participation in any sport until proof of a current physical (expires 395 days from the date obtained) is on file with the school.
Vision and Hearing Screenings
On August 3, 2015, Public Act 099-0249 was enacted that changes the process for parents or legal guardians seeking a religious exemption to any required immunizations or examinations for their children. The new law requires that parents or legal guardians who object on religious grounds to complete a Certificate of Religious Exemption, which must also be signed by the physician, advanced practice nurse or physician assistant responsible for performing the student examination. The healthcare provider signature on this new form attests to informing the parent or legal guardian of the benefits of immunization and the health risks of not vaccinating the student. The certificate also requires the parent or guardian signature to attest to understanding that their child may be excluded from school in the case of a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or exposure. The Certificate of Religious Exemption form is available at https://www.isbe.net/Documents/immun-exam-gdlns-religious-exempt.pdf. This form may not be used for exemptions from immunizations and/or examination for personal or philosophical reasons. Illinois law does not allow for such exemptions.
Per ISBE Guidelines, the school district must make the immunization data they are required to submit to the State Board of Education publicly available. Immunization data made publicly available is identical to the data the school district has reported to the State Board of Education.
Influenza and the Influenza Vaccine
Influenza viruses are divided into three types, designated A, B, and C. Influenza types A and B are responsible for epidemics of respiratory illness that occur almost every winter and are often associated with increased rates for hospitalization and death. Influenza type C differs from types A and B in some important ways. Type C infection usually causes either a very mild respiratory illness or no symptoms at all. It does not cause epidemics and does not have the severe public health impact that influenza types A and B do. Efforts to control the impact of influenza are aimed at types A and B.
While there are many different flu viruses, each season a flu vaccine protects against the 3 or 4 viruses that research suggests will be most common. Three kinds of flu viruses commonly circulate among people today: Influenza A (H1N1) viruses, influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and influenza B viruses.
More information regarding influenza and the vaccine can be found on the IDPH website.
Meningococcal Disease & Vaccine
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection. It occurs commonly in two forms: inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis) or a severe blood infection (meningococcemia).
The bacterium that causes meningococcal disease, Neisseria meningitidis, first infects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, usually without any symptoms. In fact, 5 percent to 10 percent of the population may carry the bacteria at any given time without becoming ill. In a small proportion of infected persons, the bacterium passes through the mucous membrane and reaches the blood stream, causing meningococcal meningitis or meningococcemia. When illness occurs, it does so within four days of exposure, but can develop as long as 10 days later. The disease is most common during winter and spring.
More information regarding Meningococcal Disease and the vaccine can be found on the IDPH website.