§ 23.1. Required health services.

 School districts and joint school boards shall provide the following health services for children of school age who are attending or who should attend an elementary, grade or high school, either public or private, and children who are attending a kindergarten which is an integral part of a local school district:

   (1)  Medical examinations.

   (2)  Dental examinations.

   (3)  Vision screening tests.

   (4)  Hearing screening tests.

   (5)  Threshold screening tests.

   (6)  Height and weight measurements.

   (7)  Maintenance of medical and dental records.

   (8)  Tuberculosis tests.

   (9)  Special examinations.

 (a)  Medical examinations as required by §  23.1 (relating to required health services) shall be provided on original entry into school, in grade six and in grade 11.

 (b)  For purposes of this section, on original entry into school means entrance into kindergarten if it is part of the school system or into the first grade if the school system does not have a kindergarten. In instances where there are kindergartens in some schools of a district and not in others, the board or joint board may decide whether medical and dental examinations shall begin in grade one or in the kindergarten.

 (c)  Children transferred from other school systems shall be examined as soon as possible after the transfer regardless of their age or grade if an adequate health record is not made available by the original school.

 (d)  Medical examinations shall be conducted carefully and in sufficient detail to command medical respect and to provide an educational experience for the child and his parents. Examinations shall be scheduled so that an average of no more than four children will be examined in an hour. Results of vision and hearing screening tests shall be available to the physician at the time of the examination.

 (e)  The school medical examination may be conducted by the family physician and reported to the school on forms supplied by the school. Administrators are urged to have as many children examined privately as possible to provide for continuity in the medical care of the child. Payment for these examinations shall be the responsibility of the parent; however, children examined privately shall be counted as part of the enrollment for reimbursement purposes as provided in §  23.23 (relating to maximum reimbursement for medical services).

 (a)  Dental examinations shall be required on original entry into school and in grades three and seven. In instances where there are kindergartens in some schools of a district and not in others, the board or joint board may decide whether medical and dental examinations shall begin in the first grade or in the kindergarten.

 (b)  Children transferred from other school systems shall be examined as soon as possible after the transfer regardless of their age or grade if an adequate dental record is not made available by the original school.

 (c)  Dental examinations shall be conducted with sufficient care and detail to command dental respect and to provide an educational experience for the child and his parents. Examinations shall be scheduled so that an average of no more than eight children are examined in an hour.

 (d)  The school dental examination may be conducted by the family dentist and reported to the school on forms supplied by the school. Administrators are urged to have as many children examined privately as possible to provide for continuity in the dental care of the child. Payment for these examinations shall be the responsibility of the parent; however, children examined privately shall be counted as part of the enrollment for reimbursement purposes as provided in §  23.24 (relating to maximum reimbursement for dental services).

 Vision screening tests shall be conducted annually by a nurse, teacher or medical technician. The Snellen Chart or other screening device approved by the Department of Health shall be utilized for vision screening.

 (a)  Identity. A hearing screening test determines the response to discrete frequencies presented at a specified decibel level.

 (b)  Test equipment. An individual pure tone audiometer or other screening equipment approved by the Department of Health shall be utilized for hearing screening tests.

 (c)  Frequencies employed. Frequencies of 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 cycles per second shall be employed in screening testing.

 (d)  Pupils to be tested. Each year, pupils in kindergarten, special ungraded classes and grades one, two, three, seven and 11 shall be given a hearing screening test.

 (a)  Identity. A threshold hearing test determines the lowest decibel level required to elicit responses, at least 50% of the time, to a series of discrete frequencies.

 (b)  Test equipment. An individual pure tone audiometer or other screening equipment approved by the Department of Health shall be utilized for threshold hearing tests.

 (c)  Frequencies employed. Frequencies of 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 and 8,000 cycles per second shall be employed in threshold testing.

 (d)  Pupils to be tested. The following pupils shall be given threshold hearing tests:

   (1)  A pupil in any grade who is known to have a loss which meets or exceeds the criteria for otologic referral established by the Department of Health shall be given a test each year.

   (2)  A pupil who fails a hearing screening test given under §  23.5 (relating to hearing screening tests).

   (3)  A pupil who presents a history of recurrent upper respiratory infection or may evidence other possible ear, nose and throat pathology.

   (4)  A pupil who shows, by classroom behavior or speech pattern, or both, that a hearing difficulty may exist.

 (a)  Height and weight measurement shall be conducted at least once annually and preferably twice annually. Every effort shall be made to determine the pattern of growth for each child so that his weight and height can be interpreted in light of his own growth pattern rather than those of his classmates.

 (b)  Height and weight measurements shall be conducted by a nurse or teacher.

 (a)  School districts and joint school boards shall maintain comprehensive medical and dental records of each individual child.

 (b)  The records shall contain all the information the school obtains concerning the health of the child.

 (a)  Pupils to be tested. A test for tuberculosis shall be administered upon original entry into school, and in grade nine by a tuberculin test.

 (b)  Testing methods. The tuberculin test may be administered by either the multiple puncture method or by the Mantoux test using intermediate strength tuberculin (PPD 0.0001 mg.).

 (c)  All tuberculin reactors. Tuberculin reactors shall be X-rayed. Chest X-rays of tuberculin reactors may be provided by local public or private health agencies. Arrangements for the examinations are the responsibility of the local school authorities.

 (d)  Tuberculin testing programs. A school board or joint school board which finds that individual schools within the school district or jointure have significant differences in the reactor rate may implement tuberculin testing programs for individual schools in accordance with the following:

   (1)  A test for tuberculosis shall be done annually on original entry into school and in the ninth grade by a tuberculin test in schools with a prior tuberculin reactor rate of 0.5% or above in these grades.

   (2)  A test for tuberculosis shall be done every third year upon original entry into school and in the ninth grade by a tuberculin test in those schools with a tuberculin reactor rate below 0.5% in these grades. A school which subsequently shows an increase to a level above 0.5% shall renew the annual testing program until the reactor rate descends below 0.5% again.

   The provisions of this §  23.9 amended July 22, 1971, effective July 23, 1971, 1 Pa.B. 2163.

 (a)  Scope. Screening for scoliosis shall be included in school health programs. Scoliosis is an appreciable lateral deviation of the normally straight vertical line of the spine or one or more lateral rotary curvatures of the spine.

 (b)  Pupils to be tested. A scoliosis screening test shall be administered to students in grade six and grade seven and to age-appropriate students in ungraded classes.

 (c)  Testing methods. Scoliosis screening shall be conducted in accordance with administrative and professional guidelines by personnel who meet the qualifications standards adopted by the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Education.

 (d)  Exceptions. Students who are under observation or care for scoliosis by a physician or students whose parents object in writing to the screening need not be tested.

 (e)  Standards. The Department of Health will issue administrative guidelines to schools to assure compliance with this section. Results of this screening shall become part of the pupil’s school health record.

 (f)  Evaluation. Data from the screening program will be evaluated in 5 years, and the need for its continuation will be considered.

   The provisions of this §  23.10 issued under sections 2102(g) and 2111(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § §  532(g) and 541(b)); section 1402(a) and (f) of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. §  14-1402(a) and (f)); and section 6 of the Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955 (35 P. S. §  521.16).

   The provisions of this §  23.10 amended June 11, 1982, effective September 1, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1819. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (6928).

 Children who appear to the school teacher, nurse, physician, dentist or dental hygienist to deviate from their normal growth and development pattern shall be reported to the parents or guardians who shall be requested to have the children examined by their family physician or family dentist. The results of these examinations shall be reported to the school. If the children are not examined within a reasonable length of time and their growth and development pattern continues to deviate from normal, the nurse, school physician, school dentist or dental hygienist shall arrange special school examinations for these children.

   The provisions of this §  23.11 issued under sections 2102(g) and 2111(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § §  532(g) and 541(b)); section 1402(a) and (f) of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. §  14-1402(a) and (f)); and section 6 of the Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955 (35 P. S. §  521.16).

   The provisions of this §  23.11 adopted June 11, 1982, effective September 1, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1819.

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  23.21 (relating to general).

REIMBURSEMENT FOR HEALTH SERVICES

§ 23.21. General.

 The amount of reimbursement shall be the actual cost of health services less any charges deemed unreasonable by the Department of Health.

 (a)  Reimbursement for medical services may not for a school year exceed the sum of $1.60 multiplied times the number of children enrolled in a school for the entire school term of that school year and for whom the school district or joint school board maintains comprehensive health records, plus a proportionate part of $1.60 for each child enrolled for a part of the school term of that school year and for whom the school district or joint school board maintains a comprehensive health record.

 (b)  The average daily membership may be used to determine the amount of reimbursement.

   The provisions of this §  23.23 issued under sections 2102(e) and 2102(g) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § §  532(c) and (g)); and section 2505.1 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. §  25-2505.1).

   The provisions of this §  23.23 amended May 28, 1982, effective May 29, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1696. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (3415).

 (a)  Reimbursement for dental services may not for a school year exceed the sum of 80¢ multiplied times the number of children enrolled in a school for the entire school term of that school year and for whom the school district or joint school board maintains comprehensive health records, plus a proportionate part of 80¢ for each child enrolled for a part of the school term of that school year and for whom the school district or joint school board maintains a comprehensive health record.

 (b)  The average daily membership may be used to determine the amount of reimbursement.

   The provisions of this §  23.24 issued under section 2102(e) and (g) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §  532(c) and (g)); and section 2505.1 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. §  25-2505.1).

   The provisions of this §  23.24 amended May 28, 1982, effective May 29, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 1696. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (3415).

 Reimbursement may be applied to the cost of the following:

   (1)  Employment of school physicians on an hourly, monthly or yearly basis.

   (2)  Employment of school dentists on an hourly, monthly or yearly basis.

   (3)  Employment of medical and dental assistants.

   (4)  Employment of school dental hygienists on a full-time or part-time basis.

   (5)  Payment for special screening examinations, such as otological, by properly qualified medical specialists.

   (6)  Supplies and equipment such as instruments, tongue depressors, dietary fluoride tablets, corrective services, dental supplies and equipment or forms used in the program.

   (7)  Payment for health services to school personnel as described in §  23.43 (relating to preemployment medical examinations).

 No reimbursement shall be made for items for which the Commonwealth reimburses school districts in whole or in part under any other section of Article XXV of the Public School Code (24 P. S. § §  25-2501—25-2593). Reimbursement for the employment of school nurses shall continue to be made under section 2505 of such act (24 P. S. §  25-2505) (Repealed).

 (a)  Enrollment for reimbursement for health services shall include children in all grades, kindergarten through grade 12, in the public and private schools of the district.

 (b)  Children shall be credited to the district in which they go to school and not in the district in which they reside if the two are not the same.

 (a)  Application for reimbursement shall be made to the Department of Health within three months after the end of the school year during which the payment for the services was made by the school district or joint school board.

 (b)  Applications for reimbursement shall be accompanied by a certified statement in detail of the amounts actually spent for medical and dental services.

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  23.21 (relating to general).

PERSONNEL

§ 23.31. Administration.

 (a)  General. The administration of the local school health program shall be the responsibility of the school board or joint school board. The administrative officer shall be the district superintendent, the supervising principal or the county superintendent.

 (a)  Qualifications. School physicians shall be legally qualified to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathy or osteopathic surgery in this Commonwealth.

 (b)  Employment. School districts alone or jointly with other districts or joint school boards shall employ school physicians and compensate them on a basis agreed between the physician and the board. Compensation may not be less than $6 per hour. Appointments shall be approved by the Department of Health. School districts shall submit through the county or district medical director or the county health director to the regional medical director the names of school physicians for approval by the Secretary of Health.

 (a)  Qualifications. A school dentist shall be a doctor of dental surgery or dental medicine legally qualified to practice dentistry in this Commonwealth.

 (b)  Employment. School districts alone or with other districts or joint school boards shall employ school dentists and shall compensate them on a basis agreed upon by the school dentist and the employing district or joint school board. Compensation may not be less than $6 per hour. Appointments shall be approved by the Department of Health. School districts shall submit to the regional dental officer the names of school dentists for approval by the Department of Health.

 (a)  Qualifications. A dental hygienist shall be licensed by the State Dental Council and Examining Board and be certified as a school dental hygienist by the Department of Education.

 (b)  Employment. Dental hygienists shall be employed by a school district or joint school board.

 (c)  Duties. The duties of a dental hygienist shall be those exclusively performed in connection with school dental health activities and to include those preventive services as recommended by the Department of Health.

 (a)  Employment. A medical technician shall be employed by the school district or joint school board.

 (a)  Qualifications. Sanitarians shall meet the qualifications prescribed by the regulations of the Advisory Health Board.

 (b)  Appointment. Sanitarians shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health or by local health authorities delegated this responsibility by the Secretary of Health.

 (c)  Duties. Sanitarians shall perform sanitary inspection of school buildings and grounds in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Advisory Health Board regarding school sanitation.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

§ 23.41. Farm and domestic service permits.

 A school employe shall obtain a preemployment medical examination, performed by the school physician, if the school district has contracted with a physician to provide this service, or by a physician of the employe’s choice legally qualified to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathy or osteopathic surgery in this Commonwealth. A prospective employe shall provide the examination results to the employing school authority, on a form prescribed by the Department of Health and completed by the examining physician.

   The provisions of this §  23.43 amended through July 3, 1986, effective July 5, 1986, 16 Pa.B. 2412. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (6931) to (6932).

 (a)  School personnel shall receive a tuberculin skin test under this section.

 (b)  School personnel to be tested include employes and independent contractors who provide direct services to students on behalf of a school, including but not limited to teachers, nurses, administrators, physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, custodians, janitors, cooks, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, librarians, psychologists, audiologists and counselors, and student teachers and volunteers who provide direct services to students on behalf of a school.

 (c)  This section applies to public, private, parochial, residential or nonresidential schools or intermediate units in this Commonwealth that enroll students in grades K-12 and ungraded classes.

 (d)  The tuberculin skin test shall be administered by either the intracutaneous Mantoux test method with the two-step tuberculin skin test procedure or the percutaneous multiple puncture test method. Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) shall be the tuberculin used for the intracutaneous Mantoux skin test. PPD or Old Tuberculin—OT—shall be the tuberculin used when administering the percutaneous multiple puncture skin test. The Department of Health may issue guidelines setting forth recommended procedures for the performance of the tuberculin skin tests.

 (e)  The tuberculin skin test shall be performed by the school physician, or by a physician of the employe’s choice legally qualified to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathy or osteopathic surgery in this Commonwealth, or the physician’s legally qualified designee.

 (f)  Prior to working for the school, the person tested for tuberculosis shall provide to the school a form, completed and signed by the physician responsible for the performance of the test, that indicates either of the following:

   (1)  A nonsignificant Mantoux test reaction using the two-step skin test procedure, or a nonsignificant multiple puncture test reaction.

   (2)  A significant tuberculin skin test reaction, with a negative chest x-ray for current tuberculosis disease.

 (g)  The form shall state that the applicant is free of active infectious tuberculosis disease and shall indicate that the applicant was or was not referred for preventive antituberculosis chemotherapy.

 (h)  If the intracutaneous Mantoux test method is used, the following information shall be provided on the form:

   (1)  A nonsignificant or negative reaction shall be filed when the test reveals an induration of 9 mm or less 48 to 72 hours after the test is administered.

   (2)  A significant or a positive reaction shall be filed when the test reveals either of the following:

     (i)   Ten mm or larger induration 48 to 72 hours after the test is administered in a person with no known exposure to a case of active tuberculosis.

     (ii)   Five mm or larger induration 48 to 72 hours after the test is administered in a person recently exposed to a case of active tuberculosis.

     (iii)   Five mm or larger induration 48 to 72 hours after the test is administered in a person suspected of having active tuberculosis.

 (i)  If the percutaneous multiple puncture test method is used, the following information shall be provided on the form:

   (1)  A nonsignificant or negative reaction shall be filed when the test reveals no induration or vesiculation—blistering—48 to 72 hours after the test is administered.

   (2)  A significant or positive reaction shall be filed when the test reveals vesiculation 48 to 72 hours after the test is administered.

   (3)  When the test reveals another reaction—discrete papules, coalescence of papules or induration—the administration of the intracutaneous Mantoux tuberculin skin test is required, and results shall be filed as specified in subsection (g)(1) or (2).

 (j)  The tuberculin skin test shall be administered within 3 months prior to the date the school receives the form.

 (k)  School personnel who have a documented nonsignificant tuberculin skin test are not required to have further tuberculin tests unless they are exposed to a case of active tuberculosis or are directed otherwise by the Secretary of the Department of Health to have an additional test. If the conditions in paragraphs (1) or (2) occur, the individual is required to have a chest X-ray and an evaluation by a physician for the presence of infectious tuberculosis. School personnel who have a significant tuberculin skin test reaction, a negative chest X-ray and a statement from the physician indicating that they are free from infectious tuberculosis are not required to have further tuberculosis tests unless one of the following occurs:

   (1)  They are exposed to an active case of tuberculosis.

   (2)  They develop a productive cough which does not respond to usual medical treatment within 14 days.

 (l)  The school shall submit requested data regarding the School Personnel Tuberculin Testing Program to the local health department on forms supplied by the Department of Health.

 (a)  School children or school employes may be excused from regular or special medical or dental examinations on presentation of written evidence to the school administrator that the examinations are contrary to the religious beliefs of the parent or guardian of the child or of the employe.

 (b)  Exemption from medical or dental examinations will not be granted if the Department of Health finds that facts exist under which the exemption constitutes a present substantial menace to the health of other persons exposed to contact with the unexamined person.

   The provisions of this §  23.45 adopted July 3, 1986, effective July 5, 1986, 16 Pa.B. 2412.

Subchapter B. SCHOOL NURSE SERVICES

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec.

§ 23.51. Children to be provided nursing services.

 Health records shall be maintained for each child. These records shall be kept in the school building where the child attends school and shall be available to the school nurse at all times. Records shall be transferred with the child when he moves from one school to another or from one district to another.

REIMBURSEMENT

§ 23.61. Maximum reimbursement.

 (a)  Reimbursement for school nurse services by the Department of Health shall be made to the school board or joint school board annually. Reimbursement may not exceed the sum expended by the board or joint school board for school nurse services and may not exceed $7.00 for each pupil in average daily membership.

 (b)  The average daily membership shall be computed for children in private, public and parochial schools in accordance with the rules or procedure established by the Department of Education.

 (c)  Each school board or joint school board shall submit to the Department of Health within 3 months after the end of the school year the average daily membership of children attending school.

   The provisions of this §  23.61 issued under section 2102(e) and (g) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. §  532(e) and (g)); and section 2505.1 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. §  25-2505.1).

 Reimbursement for school nurse services shall be limited to that part of the cost of employment and travel expenses of school nurses incurred in the operation of the school health program.

DUTIES OF SCHOOL NURSES

§ 23.71. Assist in health program and examining.

 (a)  School nurses shall assist the school administrator and the school physicians and dentists in planning and organizing the school health program and shall encourage parents to have the required medical and dental examinations done by their family physicians and family dentists.

 School nurses shall plan for first aid services and instruct personnel responsible for giving first aid.

Subchapter C. IMMUNIZATION

Sec.

 This subchapter has been promulgated to insure that school children are immunized against diseases which spread easily in schools and interrupt school life and learning for individuals and groups. This subchapter affects public, private and parochial schools, including kindergartens, special education classes, home education programs and vocational classes in this Commonwealth.

   The provisions of this §  23.81 amended through September 17, 1982, effective August 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3288; amended August 22, 1997, effective August 23, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 4317. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (164331).

 The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   Ascertain—To determine whether or not a child is immunized as defined in this subchapter.

   Attendance at school—The attendance at a grade, or special classes, kindergarten through 12th grade, including public, private, parochial, vocational, intermediate unit and home education students.

   Certificate of immunization—The official form furnished by the Department. The certificate is filled out by the parent or health care provider and signed by the health care provider, public health official or school nurse or a designee. The certificate is given to the school as proof of immunization. The school maintains the certificate as the official school immunization record or stores the details of the record in a computer data base.

   Department—The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.

   Immunization—The requisite number of dosages of the specific antigens at the recommended time intervals under this subchapter.

   Record of immunization—A written document showing the date of immunization—that is, baby book, Health Passport, family Bible, other states’ official immunization documents, International Health Certificate, immigration records, physician record, school health records and other similar documents or history.

   Secretary—The Secretary of the Department.

   The provisions of this §  23.82 amended through September 17, 1982, effective August 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3288; amended August 22, 1997, effective August 23, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 4317. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (164331).

 (a)  Required for entry. The following immunizations are required for entry into school for the first time at the kindergarten or first grade level, at public, private or parochial schools in this Commonwealth, including special education and home education programs:

   (1)  Hepatitis B. Three properly-spaced doses of hepatitis B vaccine or a history of hepatitis B immunity proved by laboratory testing.

   (2)  Diphtheria. Four or more properly-spaced doses of diphtheria toxoid, which may be administered as a single antigen vaccine, in combination with tetanus toxoid or in combination with tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine. One dose shall be administered on or after the 4th birthday.

   (3)  Tetanus. Four or more properly-spaced doses of tetanus toxoid, which may be administered as a single antigen vaccine, in combination with diphtheria toxoid or in combination with diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine. One dose shall be administered on or after the 4th birthday.

   (4)  Poliomyelitis. Three or more properly-spaced doses of any combination of oral polio vaccine or enhanced inactivated polio vaccine.

   (5)  Measles (rubeola). Two properly-spaced doses of live attenuated measles vaccine, the first dose administered at 12 months of age or older, or a history of measles immunity proved by serological evidence showing antibody to measles as determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test or a comparable test. Each dose of measles vaccine may be administered as a single antigen vaccine.

   (6)  German measles (rubella). One dose of live attenuated rubella vaccine, administered at 12 months of age or older or a history of rubella immunity proved by serological evidence showing antibody to rubella determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test or any comparable test. Rubella vaccine may be administered as a single antigen vaccine.

   (7)  Mumps. One dose of live attenuated mumps vaccine, administered at 12 months of age or older or a physician diagnosis of mumps disease indicated by a written record signed by the physician or the physician’s designee. Mumps vaccine may be administered as a single antigen vaccine.

   (8)  Chickenpox (varicella). One of the following:

     (i)   One dose of varicella vaccine, administered at 12 months of age or older.

     (ii)   A history of chickenpox immunity proved by laboratory testing or a written statement of history of chickenpox disease from a parent, guardian or physician.

 (b)  Required for attendance. The following immunizations are required as a condition of attendance at school in this Commonwealth if the child has not received the immunizations required for school entry listed in subsection (a).

   (1)  Diphtheria. Three or more properly spaced doses of diphtheria toxoid, which may be administered as a single antigen vaccine, in combination with tetanus toxoid or in combination with tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine.

   (2)  Tetanus. Three or more properly spaced doses of tetanus toxoid, which may be administered as a single antigen vaccine, in combination with diphtheria toxoid or in combination with diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine.

   (3)  Poliomyelitis. Three or more properly spaced doses of either oral polio vaccine or enhanced inactivated polio vaccine. If a child received any doses of inactivated polio vaccine administered prior to 1988, a fourth dose of inactivated polio vaccine is required.

   (4)  Measles (rubeola). Two properly spaced doses of live attenuated measles vaccine, administered at 12 months of age or older or a history of measles immunity proved by serological evidence showing antibody to measles determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test or a comparable test. Each dose of measles vaccine may be administered as a single antigen vaccine.

   (5)  German measles (rubella). One dose of live attenuated rubella vaccine, administered at 12 months of age or older or a history of rubella immunity proved by serological evidence showing antibody to rubella determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test or any comparable test. Rubella vaccine may be administered as a single antigen vaccine.

   (6)  Mumps. One dose of live attenuated mumps vaccine, administered at 12 months of age or older or a physician diagnosis of mumps disease indicated by a written record signed by the physician or the physician’s designee. Mumps vaccine may be administered as a single antigen vaccine.

 (c)  Required for entry into 7th grade. In addition to the immunizations listed in subsection (b), the following immunizations are required at any public, private, parochial or vocational school in this Commonwealth, including special education and home education programs, as a condition of entry for students entering the 7th grade; or, in an ungraded class, for students in the school year that the student is 12 years of age:

   (1)  Hepatitis B. Three properly-spaced doses of hepatitis B vaccine or a history of hepatitis B immunity proved by laboratory testing.

   (2)  Chickenpox (varicella). One of the following:

     (i)   One dose of varicella vaccine, administered at 12 months of age or older.

     (ii)   Two properly-spaced doses of varicella vaccine for children 13 years of age and older.

     (iii)   A history of chickenpox immunity proved by laboratory testing, or a written statement of history of chickenpox disease from the parent, guardian, emancipated child or physician.

   The provisions of this §  23.83 amended through September 17, 1982, effective August 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3288; amended August 22, 1997, effective August 23, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 4317; amended September 28, 2001, effective September 29, 2001, 31 Pa.B. 5525. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (232756) to (232758).

 (a)  Medical exemption. Children need not be immunized if a physician or the physician’s designee provides a written statement that immunization may be detrimental to the health of the child. When the physician determines that immunization is no longer detrimental to the health of the child, the child shall be immunized according to this subchapter.

 (b)  Religious exemption. Children need not be immunized if the parent, guardian or emancipated child objects in writing to the immunization on religious grounds or on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief.

   The provisions of this §  23.84 amended through September 17, 1982, effective August 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3288; amended August 22, 1997, effective August 23, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 4317. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (164332) to (164333) and (129145).

 (a)  The administrator in charge of a school shall appoint a knowledgeable person to perform the following:

   (1)  Inform the parent, guardian or emancipated child at registration or prior to registration, if possible, of the requirements of this subchapter.

   (2)  Ascertain the immunization status of a child prior to admission to school or continued attendance at school.

     (i)   The parent, guardian or emancipated child shall be asked for a completed certificate of immunization.

     (ii)   In the absence of a certificate of immunization, the parent, guardian or emancipated child shall be asked for a record or history of immunization which indicates the month, day and year that immunizations were given. This information shall be recorded on the certificate of immunization and signed by the school official or the official’s designee, or the details of the record shall be stored in a computer database.

 (b)  If the knowledgeable person designated by the school administrator is unable to ascertain whether a child has received the immunizations required by §  23.83 (relating to immunization requirements) or by subsection (e) or is exempt under §  23.84 (relating to exemption for immunization), the school administrator may admit the child to school or allow the child’s continued attendance at school only according to the requirements of subsections (d) and (e).

 (c)  The parent or guardian of a child or the emancipated child who has not received the immunizations required by §  23.83 shall be informed of the specific immunizations required and advised to go to the child’s usual source of care or nearest public clinic to obtain the required immunizations.

 (d)  A child not previously admitted to or not allowed to continue attendance at school because the child has not had the required immunizations shall be admitted to or permitted to continue attendance at school only upon presentation to the school administrator or school administrator’s designee of a completed certificate of immunization or immunization record, upon submission of information sufficient for an exemption under §  23.84, or upon compliance with subsection (e).

 (e)  If a child has not received all the antigens described in §  23.83, the child may be provisionally admitted to school only if evidence of the administration of at least one dose of each antigen described in §  23.83 is given to the school administrator or the administrator’s designee and the parent or guardian’s plan for completion of the required immunizations is made part of the child’s health record. The plan for completion of the required immunizations shall be reviewed every 60 days by the school administrator or the administrator’s designee. Subsequent immunizations shall be entered on the certificate of immunization or entered in the school’s computer database. Immunization requirements described in §  23.83 shall be completed within 8 months of the date of provisional admission to school. If the requirements are not met, the school administrator may not admit the child to school or permit continued attendance.

 (f)  A school shall maintain on file a certificate of immunization for a child enrolled. An alternative to maintaining a certificate on file is to transfer the immunization information from the certificate to a computer database. The certificate of immunization or a facsimile thereof generated by computer shall be returned to the parent, guardian or emancipated child or the school shall transfer the certificate of immunization (or facsimile) with the child’s record to the new school when a child withdraws, transfers, is promoted, graduates or otherwise leaves the school.

   The provisions of this §  23.85 amended through September 17, 1982, effective August 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3288; amended August 22, 1997, effective August 23, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 4317. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (129145) to (129146).

 (a)  A public, private or parochial school shall report immunization data to the Department by October 15 of each year, using forms provided by the Department.

 (b)  The school administrator or the administrator’s designee shall forward the reports to the Immunization Program, Bureau of Communicable Diseases, Post Office Box 90, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108.

 (c)  Duplicate reports shall be submitted to the county health department if the school is situated in a county with a full-time health department.

 (d)  Content of the reports shall include the following information:

   (1)  The identification of the school including the name of the school, the school district, the county, the intermediate unit and the type of school.

   (2)  The month, day and year of report.

   (3)  The number of students attending school by grade-level.

   (4)  The number of students attending school by grade-level who were completely immunized.

   (5)  The number of students attending school by grade-level who were classed as medical exemptions.

   (6)  The number of students attending school by grade-level who were classed as religious exemptions.

   (7)  The number of students provisionally admitted.

   (8)  The number of children who were denied admission because of their inability to qualify for provisional admission.

   (9)  Other information as required by the Department.

 (e)  For purposes of reporting the immunization status of a school’s students to the Department, the following grade-levels will be used: kindergarten, grades 1-6, 7-9, 10-12 and special education.

   The provisions of this §  23.86 amended through September 17, 1982, effective August 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3288; amended January 23, 1987, effective January 24, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 375; amended August 22, 1997, effective August 23, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 4317. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (129146) and (116439).

 (a)  The Department will provide the certificates of immunization to schools.

 (b)  The Department will monitor school districts for compliance with this subchapter and shall have access to school immunization records whether the records are maintained as certificates or whether the records are contained in a school’s computer database.

 (c)  Questions concerning this subchapter should be addressed to the Immunization Program, Bureau of Communicable Diseases, Post Office Box 90, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108, (717) 787-5681.

   The provisions of this §  23.87 amended through September 17, 1982, effective August 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3288; amended August 22, 1997, effective August 23, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 4317. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (116439).

   This section cited in 28 Pa. Code §  27.77 (relating to immunization requirements for children in child care group settings).