Chickenpox Vaccinations

The State of Nebraska is requiring all students to have two Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccinations or parent report of having the disease. The new law will be required for the 2011-2012 school year. Please contact your child’s health care provider to find out how to meet this new requirement.

The Douglas County Health Department immunization program is a valuable resource to meet the requirement. You can schedule an appointment with the Douglas County Immunization Program by calling 402-444-6163. Douglas County Immunization Program asks parents to provide your child’s current immunization history, when you attend the immunization appointment. The Infinite Campus Parent Portal or your child’s school nurse can assist you in obtaining your student’s immunization history.

Chickenpox is a disease caused by infection with the varicella zoster virus, which causes fever and an itchy rash. Complications include bacterial infection of the skin, swelling of the brain, and pneumonia. Adolescents and adults are more at risk for severe disease.

Your attention to this matter at this time will assist in protecting your child from Chickenpox and the possible secondary side effects that are possible with the disease. Please refer to the OPS web site, ops.org , and under the parent link click the topic Chickenpox Vaccine .

If your child had chickenpox the proof of the disease can be recorded by the parent on the document available on ops.org click on the parent link then click on chicken pox vaccination. Documentation provided by your Health Care Provider or the Douglas County Health Department Immunization Program can be provided to the school nurse at your child’s school. Meeting this requirement at this time will provide the protection of the vaccine immediately and provide the documentation to the school to demonstrate that your child meets the state requirement.
 

Web Site which provides Nebraska immunization regulations:  Nebraska Immunization Regulations Website

 
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services                                     173 NAC 3
 
3-008.01B
Students enrolling for the first time (kindergarten or 1sr grade, depending on the school district’s entering grade),enrolling in 7th grade, and all transfer students from outside the state regardless of the grade they are entering are considered immunized if they have received:
3 doses of DTaP, DTP, DT, or Td vaccine with at least 1 dose given no earlier than 4 days before 4 years of age;
3 doses of polio vaccine;
2 doses of MMR vaccine;
2 doses of pediatric hepatitis B vaccine, or, if the alternate hepatitis B
Vaccination schedule is used , 2 doses of a licensed adult hepatitis B vaccine specified for adolescents 11-15 years of age; and
1 dose of varicella vaccine given before the 13th birthday, or 2 doses of varicella vaccine with the first dose given after the 13th birthday and the second dose given no less than 28 days later. Beginning July 1, 2011 and thereafter, 2 doses of varicella vaccine.
 
Beginning July 2010 and thereafter, students enrolling in 7th grade must provide evidence of having 1 booster dose of a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine given after 10 years of age.
3-008.01C All other students are considered immunized if they have received:
3 doses of DTaP, DTP, DT, or Td vaccine, with at least 1 dose given no earlier than 4 days before 4 years of age;
3 dose of polio vaccine;
2 doses of MMR vaccine given no earlier than 4 days before the first birthday and the 2 doses separated by at least 28 days;
3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine; and
Beginning July 1, 2011 and thereafter, 2 doses of varicella vaccine.
 
3-009.04 A documented history of varicella disease from a parent or health care provider with the year of infection constitutes evidence of immunity to varicella. The documentation must include the following:
  1. Signature of the parent or legal guardian and the date (year) of the child’s varicella illness, or
  2. Signature of the health care provider and the date (year) of the child’s varicella illness, or
  3. Laboratory evidence of a child’s varicella immunity.  
FormLink
Immunization Rules and RegulationsView
Immunization Rules and Regulations - Spanish VersionView