All parents of 6th grade students should be aware of recent changes to NYS Public Health Law Section 2164. A letter sent to all building principals from the NYS Commissioner of Health states that all children enrolled in any public, private, or parochial school on or after September 1, 2000 are required to receive three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine.

He further advises that:

"Students who have received at least one dose of hepatitis B vaccine and have an appointment or appropriately spaced appointments to receive the remainder of the required doses may attend school while in the process of completing the vaccine series."

"The hepatitis B series must have a minimal interval between the three doses. The interval between the first and second doses is 28 days. The third dose should be given no earlier than four months after the first dose and no earlier than six months of age."

"It is not necessary to restart the series if the interval between doses is longer than what is recommended."

If you have any questions about this new requirement you can call your NYS Department of Health's Immunization Programs's regional office in New Rochelle at: 914-654-7149.

For general information you can visit the NYSDH web page on hepatitis B
at
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/hep_b.htm

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