Dear South Colonie Parents,
Due to recent public health concerns, Governor Cuomo enacted legislation on June 13, 2019, (see link below) which eliminated the religious exemption from immunizations for school children in public, private and parochial schools (for students in Pre-K through 12th Grade), as well as in child day care programs. This legislation is effective immediately.
Therefore, for the 2019-2020 school year, students who were previously granted religious exemptions, now must receive certain immunizations as required by New York State, unless the student’s parent can obtain a certification from a treating physician that the required immunization(s) would be detrimental to the child’s health.
Prior to the start of the 2019-2020 school year, absent a doctor’s certification (as provided above), all students must receive or have received, the following required immunizations:
- Poliomyelitis Rubella
- Tetanus
- Mumps
- Hepatitis B
- Meningitis
- Measles
- Varicella
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis
- Pneumococcal disease
If your child plans to attend a summer school program (s), he/she must begin all of the required immunizations before they will be admitted. The New York State Department of Health (“DOH”), the Office of Children and Family Services (“OCFS”), and the New York State Department of Education (“SED”) issued a memo stating that children must receive their first age appropriate dose of the required immunizations by June 28, 2019, and by July 14, 2019, you must show that appointments for your child have been scheduled for all required follow-up doses of the immunizations.
If your child is not enrolled in summer school (s), he/she must receive the required immunizations no later than fourteen (14) days after the first day of school. Within thirty (30) days of the first day of school, you must show that you have made appointments for your child to receive all required follow-up doses of the immunizations.
If your child does not receive the required immunizations within the time frames set forth above or if you fail to provide the District with a valid medical exemption from a doctor, your child will be excluded from schools within the District.
If there are any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely,
Jonathan W. Buhner,
Superintendent of Schools
LInk to more information on new legislation: