LATEST NEWS & UPDATES

September 2011

ANNOUNCING DR. COOK'S DEPARTURE
We are saddened to report that Dr. Cook is leaving full time work at Richmond Pediatrics to pursue a career as a hospitalist, a pediatrician who cares for children exclusively when they are in the hospital. Both we at Richmond Pediatrics and our patients have benefited from the kind, thorough and excellent care that she has provided during her time at our clinic. Dr. Cook will still be at our clinic intermittently when she covers the absence of one of our regular doctors.

For Dr. Cook's patients, we will continue to offer support for your family in this potentially distressing time as your primary physician leaves. Please call us with any questions and concerns during this transition. We want you know that as a clinic "family" we will try our best to maintain some continuity for your children and that the new doctor you choose at Richmond Pediatrics will be eager to provide you with the same quality of care to which you have become accustomed.. We wish Dr. Cook the best of luck in her new endeavors, and thank her for all of the care that she has provided at Richmond Pediatrics.

FLU VACCINE AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT
We currently have the injectable flu vaccine for all children 6 months of age through 18 years, as well as the nasal flu vaccine for children 2 through 18 years of age who have never had a history of wheezing. The flu vaccine is recommended for ALL patients 6 months to 18 years of age. A 2 dose schedule is recommended for children under the age of 9 who did not receive the flu vaccine last year. We are offering flu clinics on Thursdays from 9:30 am - 6:30 pm for additional availability. Appointments are necessary for vaccine administration - please call to schedule.

JULY 2011

2011 SCHOOL AND CHILD CARE IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTION LAW
Washington state law requires that children must be immunized against certain vaccine-preventable diseases before attending a licensed childcare or school. Parents and guardians meet this requirement by filling out and turning in a Certificate of Immunization Status form, showing their child has the required vaccinations. Effective July 22, 2011, the new law changes what guardians must do to exempt their child from one or more of the required vaccines.

1) What is different?
If parents or guardians want to exempt their child from immunization requirements, they must first get information about the benefits and risks of vaccinations from a licensed health care provider. The provider will sign the Certificate of Exemption form that parents have to turn in to the school or childcare to exempt their child. Instead of using the form, providers may choose to write and sign a letter verifying the same information. The health care provider signature is not required for parents or guardians who demonstrate membership in a church or religious body that does not believe in medical treatment. The law takes effect July 22, 2011, and applies only to exemptions that parents or guardians claim on or after this date.

2) How can Richmond Pediatrics help?
We are eager to help our families with this process as much as possible. Please collect and review any outside immunization records for your child and let us know how you would like us to help. As long as your child is up to date on well child visits and you have discussed immunizations with your provider in the past year, we will provide the required forms to you free of charge. Please bear with us that we are handling a flood of incoming forms.
If your child is due for a well child visit or has not been seen at our clinic for a long time please schedule a visit at your convenience to discuss immunizations, review growth, health and development, or discuss any concerns you might have with one of our doctors.
Please allow for 5 business days for a nurse to review and process requested immunization certificate. Please allow 10 business days for your doctor to review requests for exemption signatures. We appreciate your patience and understanding in dealing with these new regulations.

3) Why was the law changed?
The new law makes sure exemptions are based on conviction, not convenience since Washington has one of the highest school exemption rates in the nation. Diseases spread quickly in schools and child care centers so that recently we have had outbreaks of whooping cough, measles, and swine flu. Unimmunized children are more likely to get and spread a disease vaccines can prevent. Immunizations save lives especially for Infants and medically fragile children. During an outbreak, the children with exemptions must be sent home until the outbreak is over or until they get vaccinated. Having fewer convenience-based exemptions will keep our communities healthier reduce the burden on our schools.

4) What does “conditional” status mean for school or childcare attendance?
Children are in “conditional” status if they do not have one or more required vaccines on their first day of school attendance or, in some cases, after they’ve begun school or child care. Children in “conditional status” can attend school or childcare for a limited time. From the time parents/guardian are notified they have 30 days to:
• Get the child vaccinated.
• Show a record of past vaccination.
• Exempt their child for the missing vaccine.
Some kids may not have immunizations part of a series with intervals between doses. In these cases, the child will remain in conditional status as long as necessary to complete the series according to recommended guidelines. In all other cases, if a parent does not take action within 30 days, the child must be excluded from school or childcare.

5) Will parents have to redo an exemption from previous years?
An exemption form on file at a school or licensed child care that was turned in before July 22, 2011 is still valid for the exemptions indicated on that form. But, as kids progress through school, different vaccinations are needed to meet age- appropriate immunization requirements, and at that time a new exemption form will have to be turned in.?

6) Where can I find out more details?
Please refer to http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/schools/exemption-info.htm