Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 7 - Education K-12 › Part 22 - Mississippi Cumulative Folders and Permanent Records Manual of Directions › Section 7-22-I - MISSISSIPPI LAW REQUIRES CUMULATIVE FOLDER AND PERMANENT RECORD › Section 7-22-I-F - Immunization practices for control of vaccine preventable diseases; attendance by unvaccinated children

Current through June 25, 2024
Whenever indicated, the state health officer shall specify
				  such immunization practices as may be considered best for the control of
				  vaccine preventable diseases. A listing shall be promulgated annually or more
				  often, if necessary.
Except as provided hereinafter, it shall be unlawful for any
				  child to attend any school, kindergarten or similar type facility intended for
				  the instruction of children (hereinafter called "schools"), either public or
				  private, with the exception of any legitimate home instruction program as
				  defined in section
37-13-91
, Mississippi Code of 1972,
				  for ten (10) or less children who are related within the third degree computed
				  according to the civil law to the operator, unless they shall first have been
				  vaccinated against those diseases specified by the state health officer.
A certificate of exemption from vaccination for medical
				  reasons may be offered on behalf of a child by a duly licensed physician and
				  may be accepted by the local health officer when, in his opinion, such
				  exemption will not cause undue risk to the community.
Certificates of vaccination shall be issued by local health
				  officers or physicians on forms specified by the Mississippi State Board of
				  Health. These forms shall be the only acceptable means for showing compliance
				  with these immunization requirements, and the responsible school officials
				  shall file the form with the child's record.
If a child shall offer to enroll at a school without having
				  completed the required vaccinations, the local health officer may grant a
				  period of time up to ninety (90) days for such completion when, in the opinion
				  of the health officer, such delay will not cause undue risk to the child, the
				  school or the community. No child shall be enrolled without having had at least
				  one (1) dose of each specified vaccine.
Within thirty (30) days after the opening of the fall term of
				  school (on or before October 1 of each year) the person in charge of each
				  school shall report to the county or local health officer, on forms provided by
				  the Mississippi State Board of Health, the number of children enrolled by age
				  or grade or both, the number fully vaccinated, the number in process of
				  completing vaccination requirements, and the number exempt from vaccination by
				  reason for such exemption.
Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the opening of the
				  fall term (on or before December 31), the person in charge of each school shall
				  certify to the local or county health officer that all children enrolled are in
				  compliance with immunization requirements.
For the purpose of assisting in supervising the immunization
				  status of the children the local health officer, or his designee, may inspect
				  the children's records or be furnished certificates of immunization compliance
				  by the school.
It shall be the responsibility of the person in charge of
				  each school to enforce the requirements for immunization. Any child not in
				  compliance at the end of ninety (90) days from the opening of the fall terrn
				  must be suspended until in compliance, unless the health officer shall
				  attribute the delay to lack of supply of vaccine or some other such factor
				  clearly making compliance impossible.
Failure to enforce provisions of this section shall
				  constitute a misdemeanor and upon conviction be punishable by fine or
				  imprisonment or both.
MS Code 41-23.-37
Laws, 1978, ch. 530, 1; 1983, ch. 522, Sec. 9, eff from and
					 after July 1, 1983.