Henrico Schools, VDH issue strong vaccination messaging as schools prepare to open doors

With the first day of classes just days away, health and Henrico County Public School officials are urging parents and guardians to complete their students’ required vaccinations.

“You've got to get them done. It is a safety net for us to be able to make sure that kids are getting those vaccines that they need,” said Melissa Viray, acting director for the Richmond Henrico Health Districts.

HCPS follows the Code of Virginia, which requires children entering daycare, public and private schools to give proof of vaccination before enrolling in school.  Virginia schools require immunizations for entry into kindergarten, seventh grade, and 12th grade. These vaccines should be given based on the schedule recommended by the Virginia Department of Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.  

To that end, HCPS partnered with the RHHD at three events this summer resulting in 307 students being vaccinated. HCPS also partnered with the RHHD to hold in-school vaccination clinics for seventh and 12th graders in every middle and high school from February to April to prepare for the upcoming school year. During those clinics, 558 students received immunizations.  

HCPS also encouraged parents and guardians to contact their students' primary care provider or use other outside partners to get the immunizations prior to the first day of school.

As HCPS and RHHD ramped up vaccine messaging, President Trump signed an executive order announcement last week that reduces and spaces out vaccines.

The American Association of Pediatricians quickly issued communications saying that executive order was unscientific and dangerous.

And the day after the White House’s announcement, VDH communications reiterated that the VDH commits to “evidence-based vaccine recommendations and ensures access to childhood vaccines.”

“It's important for parents to know that that Executive Order does not actually change what your kids are going to have to have to go into school,” Viray said. “We have a lot of science and a lot of evidence. There is an enormous amount of data to support MMR vaccine and vaccination and that it's a safe and effective vaccine. That is part of why it is continues to be part of the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics and continues to be part of our school requirements in Virginia to prevent things like measles, mumps and rubella.”

Viral illnesses that are preventable with vaccines are making a come-back. AAP has tracked 157 cases of measles in Virginia with a cluster in Northern Virginia and a recently closed case of measles just two counties west of Henrico.

Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and a characteristic blotchy skin rash.

The Center for Disease Control has counted more than 2,566 measles cases nation-wide.

Viray said parents should view vaccinations as one of the key things that can help their students be ready for school.

“The biggest thing that we can do to help them stay well in school and not get sick and not get pulled out of school, is to make sure they're up-to-date in their vaccines. We want to make sure that they cover their cough. Yes. We want to make sure they're washing their hands because those are important,” Viray said.

“With regards to helping students stay free of infection, going into this new school year now, there's so many things that parents are having to worry about. From a health standpoint, vaccines are safe and effective. We want to keep our kids home when they're sick. We want to make sure they're getting well, we want to make sure they have good self-hygiene. Vaccinations will continue to protect them as they're learning those things.”

According to VDH’s data, nearly 88% of seven-year-olds in Henrico County have completed their series of MMR vaccinations. That's slightly higher than the statewide level of nearly 87%.

“There is opportunity for improvement,” Viray said. “Because we do want that vaccinated rate to be above 95% for our kids – in particular, our most vulnerable kids – to be vaccinated because there are a small proportion of children who cannot be vaccinated, because they have conditions that won't allow for them to get that vaccine and they won't have any options.”

Students who are not up to date on immunizations and do not have a conditional enrollment or an approved exemption listed in the Code of Virgina will need to be picked up from school until the family submits approved documentation verifying appropriate immunizations, HCPS Chief of Communications Eileen Cox wrote in an email.

“I would hope that parents speak with their pediatrician about the pros and cons of these diseases, versus the vaccination,” said Viray. “I think a lot of times, people don't necessarily know what happened before we had these vaccinations. And I think a good conversation with their pediatrician would be helpful in understanding why these vaccinations could be this important.”

There are still ways and times to complete the vaccination requirement.

As staffers make final preparations for school opening, HCPS nurses continue assisting families with questions about where to obtain needed vaccinations, according to Cox.

Bremo Pharmacy in the West End has vaccination appointments available, as do many commercial pharmacies.

If students are still in need of either a seventh or 12th grade immunization after the first day of school, HCPS and RHHD will host vaccine events on Aug. 24, 25 and 26 during which vaccines will be given on a first come, first serve basis due to limited capacity. Information on those immunization events is being distributed through the school system.  

HCPS officials, along with other school districts in Virginia, are required to report vaccination numbers to the VDH by Oct. 15.

Dina Weinstein is the Citizen’s community vitality reporter and a Report for America corps member, covering housing, health and transportation. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.