Immunization Statement

June 21, 2019

Dear Parents/Guardians,

On June 13, 2019, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed legislation removing non-medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements for children in response to the worst outbreak of measles in more than 25 years.  Therefore, based on this new legislation, there is no longer a religious exemption for a student in regards to being vaccinated against measles and other diseases to attend Bayport-Blue Point schools or district run programs.

The New York State Department of Health follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices catch-up immunization schedule and expects children to receive required doses consistent with Table 2, which can be found on the third page of the following link:  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf

Parents and guardians of all children who do not have their required immunizations are encouraged to have them receive the first dose as soon as possible.  To attend any school-sponsored summer program, children who had a religious exemption to required immunizations must now receive the first age-appropriate dose in each immunization series by June 28, 2019.  By July 14 parents and guardians of such children must prove documentation that shows they have made appointments for all required follow-up doses. Therefore, if your child(ren) does not have the first age appropriate dose by June 28th, he/she will not be able to attend any summer programs held at BBP as of July 1, 2019.  In addition, if the district does not have the scheduled appointments for future immunizations from your physician, your child will be excluded as of July 15, 2019. 

The deadline for obtaining first dose vaccinations for children attending school in the fall is Tuesday, September 17, 2019.  Therefore, if your child does not have his/her first age appropriate immunization by Tuesday, September 17, 2019, he/she will be excluded from school on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.  Additionally, parents and guardians must show that they have made appointments for all required follow-up doses for their children by Friday, October 4, 2019.  This documentation is to be sent to your child’s building nurse.  If we do not receive documentation of immunization from your children’s health care provider by this date, they will not be permitted entry to school effective Monday, October 7, 2019.

Thank you for your attention to this important health matter. 

Sincerely,

Timothy P. Hearney, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools