Immunization Policy

IMMUNIZATION POLICY: Granada Hills Charter will adhere to all laws related to legally required immunizations for entering students pursuant to Health and Safety Code Sections 120325-120375, and Title 17, California Code of Regulations Sections 6000-6075.

Required Immunizations, Records and Reports

California law requires that an immunization record be presented to GHC staff before a child can be unconditionally enrolled in school. GHC requires written verification from a doctor or immunization clinic of the following immunizations:

Students entering kindergarten who are not exempt will need the following immunization requirements:

Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus (DTaP)	Five (5) doses
Polio	Four (4) doses
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)	Two (2) doses
Hepatitis B (Hep B)	Three (3) doses
Varicella (chickenpox)	One (1) dose

NOTE: Four doses of DTaP are allowed if one was given on or after the fourth birthday. Three doses of Polio are allowed if one was given on or after fourth birthday. MMR doses must be given on or after first birthday. Students entering 7th grade who are not exempt from the immunization requirements must show proof of the following immunizations:

Immunization	Dosage
Tetanus, reduced Diphtheria, and acellular Pertussis (Tdap)	One (1) dose

Additionally, students who are not exempt from the immunization requirements must show proof of the following immunizations when advancing to the 7th grade.

Immunization	Dosage
Varicella	Two (2) Doses

NOTE: In order to begin 7th grade, students who had a valid personal belief exemption on file with a public or private elementary or secondary school in California before January 1, 2016 must meet all requirements for children 7-17 years old (i.e., polio, MMR, chickenpox and primary series for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), in addition to the 7th grade requirements for Tdap and two (2) doses of Varicella.

Verification of immunizations will be completed with written medical records from the child’s doctor or immunization clinic. Immunization records shall be part of the mandatory permanent pupil record and shall be kept in accordance with the GHC’s record-keeping policy. GHC will file a written report on the immunization status of all new entrants to GHC with the California Department of Public Health as required by law.

Any child leaving the United States for a short vacation to or long stay in any country considered by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) to have increased risk of TB exposure (such as Mexico, the Philippines, India or Southeast Asia) MUST contact the County Tuberculosis Clinic for a TB Screening upon return.

GHC shall immediately admit a foster child, as defined in Education Code § 48853.5(a), and a homeless child, as defined in Section 11434a(2) of Title 42 of the United States Code, whose immunization records are not available or are missing. However, this does not alter GHC’s obligation to obtain immunization records for foster and homeless students or to ensure the full immunization of foster and homeless students as required by law.

If GHC discovers that an admitted student who is not exempt from the immunization requirements has not received all required immunizations and does not meet the conditional admission requirements set forth below, GHC will notify his/her parent/guardian. If, within ten (10) school days of the notice, the child does not provide documentation of having received all required immunizations, GHC shall exclude this student from attendance. The student shall remain excluded from the GHC’s campuses until he/she is fully immunized. The student shall also be reported to the Attendance Office.

The Executive Director, or designee, may arrange for qualified medical personnel to administer immunizations at GHC to any Student whose parent/guardian has consented in writing.

Whenever there is good cause to believe that a student has been exposed to a communicable disease for which immunization is required, that student may be temporarily excluded from the campuses until the local health officer is satisfied that the person is no longer at risk of developing the disease.

Documentary Proof

The Health Office shall maintain the Student’s immunization information in the Student’s mandatory permanent record and shall file annual immunization status reports as required by the California Department of Public Health.

Exemptions from Immunization Requirements:

All students must be fully immunized in accordance with the California Health and Safety Code and the California Code of Regulations with the following exceptions:

• Students who show proof of a verifiable medical exemption pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 120370; If there is good cause to believe that a child has been exposed to a disease listed in subdivision (b) of Section 120335 and his or her documentary proof of immunization status does not show proof of immunization against that disease, that child may be temporarily excluded from the school or institution until the local health officer is satisfied that the child is no longer at risk of developing or transmitting the disease.
• Students who are enrolled in a home-based private school or independent study program and do not receive any classroom-based instruction and
• Students who, prior to January 1, 2016, submitted a letter or affidavit on file at a private or public elementary or secondary school in California stating beliefs opposed to immunization, and who provides said letter or affidavit to GHC, shall be allowed to enroll at GHC without being fully immunized until the student enrolls in the next grade span pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 120335(g).
  • “Grade span” means each of the following:
    • Birth to Preschool.
    • Kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, including transitional kindergarten.
    • Grades 7 to 12, inclusive.
• If there is good cause to believe that a child has been exposed to a disease listed in subdivision (b) of Section 120335 and his or her documentary proof of immunization status does not show proof of immunization against that disease, that child may be temporarily excluded from the school or institution until the local health officer is satisfied that the child is no longer at risk of developing or transmitting the disease.

Nothing in the current immunization policy shall prevent GHC from implementing new or revised regulations as required by law.

Health Insurance

Children's Health Access and Medi-Cal Programs (CHAMP) provide information and assist parents to access health and insurance for their children ages 0-18. Parents can call a toll free Helpline at 1 (866)742-2273. Students injured while involved in school related activities have additional insurance coverage through GHC. See the Business Office for details.